Wallace, Anne, Branch-Carnegie Library of Atlanta
Also known as: Techwood Recreation Center; SunTrust Bank Branch
Why it's listed
Built in 1909 with funds from Andrew Carnegie, this one-story red brick building at 535 Luckie Street NW was the first branch of the Atlanta Public Library. It was named for Anne Wallace, the local librarian who persuaded Carnegie to fund the city's central library. New York architects Whitfield and King designed it to Carnegie's standard plans, with local architect Harry L. Walker assigned to the project. Georgian Revival details include a pedimented portico with Corinthian columns, marble-trimmed windows with keystones, a fanlight entrance, and a wooden cornice with dentils and modillions. Inside is one large reading room under a coved ceiling, with an auditorium in the basement. The branch served white patrons until 1962, then became a recreation center, and later a bank branch following a certified rehabilitation. It is the only survivor of four Carnegie libraries built in Atlanta and one of 24 in Georgia.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be significant in architecture as a good intact Georgian Revival public building built to Carnegie-approved library plans. It is significant in education as the first branch of the Atlanta Public Library and the only survivor of the three Carnegie branches and central library built in Atlanta. It is also one of only 24 Carnegie-supported public libraries built in Georgia.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 03001223, listed December 4, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 535 Luckie St. NW, Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | December 4, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001223 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Whitfield and King, of New York City: principal King, Beverly S. (1879-1935); local architect Harry L. Walker assigned to the project |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Georgia Revival (Georgian Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a bank branch after a 1990s certified rehabilitation; it was a recreation center from the 1960s. The building is publicly owned and leased to a bank. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.77075, -84.39604 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 03001223.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134314662
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.