AmericasMart Founder John Portman Jr. Dies at 93

January 2, 2018  by Larry Thomas in Community / Charitable Support, Industry   

Portman founded AmericasMart (then called the Atlanta Merchandise Mart) in 1961, and later designed and developed four major downtown Atlanta hotels – the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta Marriott Marquis and Hotel Indigo Atlanta – that are now the heart of the city’s convention district.

When the Hyatt Regency was opened in 1967, its 22-story atrium, glass elevators and rooftop restaurant made architectural history. Today, most Hyatt Regency properties include these features.

Portman’s architectural firm also designed a number of other high-profile projects throughout the world, including the Renaissance center in Detroit, the Embarcadero Center in San Francisco, the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City’s Times Square, the Brussels International Trade Mart, the Shanghai Center in China, and many others.

A public memorial service is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 5 at 12:30 p.m. in the Atrium of AmericasMart Building 3.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Office of Gift Records, Emory University, 1762 Clifton Rd. NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322. Condolences may be sent in care of Jana Portman Simmons, Portman Holdings, 303 Peachtree Center Avenue, NE, Suite 575, Atlanta, GA 30303.