The 20-story, $75 million structure is called 171 17th Street to blend with the new $38 million, 17th Street bridge over Interstates 75 and 85. The building is tentatively scheduled for completion in April 2004.

Triggering the ground-breaking were the first two office leases signed by the developers. SouthTrust Bank of Birmingham, AL is taking 95,000 sf to house 300 employees on the first five floors of the building. Atlanta law firm Arnall Golden Gregory LLP is leasing 135,000 sf for its 130 lawyers and staff on the top seven floors.

CRB Realty broker Charles Brown, who is handling leasing for the project, wouldn't disclose terms or details of the two transactions. But Midtown office brokers, in a position to know, tell GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity the two leases are among the largest ever signed in metro Atlanta's recent commercial real estate annals.