Federal workers located on the impacted floors of the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center will remain out of the building until at least Friday, according to the General Services Administration (GSA).
The facility, occupying more than 1.5 million square feet and situated at 61 Forsyth St. SW near the Five Points MARTA station, hosts multiple federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration, the GSA itself, and the departments of Homeland Security and Health & Human Services.
Recently, many federal employees have been mandated to return to their offices amid the Trump administration’s initiative to enhance government efficiency and reduce remote work.
On June 2nd, GSA officials discovered a ruptured chilled water line on the 16th floor of the Sam Nunn facility, leading to a substantial leak that affected floors 6 through 16.
In a written statement, a GSA spokesperson confirmed that the leak has been contained and cleanup efforts have commenced on the affected floors.
The spokesperson also noted that an action plan is being developed to address the damage caused by the leak.
GSA is actively coordinating with the tenant agencies affected to ensure their operations continue smoothly during the remediation process.
Eyewitness accounts from federal employees suggested a significant amount of water was cascading down the exterior of the west side of the building as cleanup efforts were underway.
The leak was attributed to complications related to a SharkBite connection, which is a type of solder-free, push-to-connect fitting used in water lines associated with heating and cooling systems.
As a result of the incident, floors 6 to 16 of the tower are closed until at least Friday, as ongoing efforts to remove the water take place.
Employees on these affected floors have been advised to work from home and are prohibited from entering the building during the flood remediation operations.
Once the remediation on each floor is complete and the space is water-free, tenant agencies will be allowed to return.
However, the necessary repair work will continue even after employees are back in the office.
Notably, the rest of the Sam Nunn center remains open and operational, unaffected by the water leak.
This incident at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center marks the second noteworthy occurrence involving an Atlanta federal building recently.
The Peachtree Summit Federal Building, located on West Peachtree Street, has been identified for potential disposal by both GSA and the Public Buildings Review Board due to concerns over underutilization and significant deferred maintenance.
A report from the PBRB last month flagged 11 properties, including the Peachtree Summit, for possible sale or consolidation.
The report also indicated that if the Peachtree Summit were sold, those federal employees might be relocated to the Sam Nunn center.
In March, the Sam Nunn Federal Center was included among 443 properties considered ‘non-core assets’ for possible sale.
However, this extensive list was promptly rescinded in response to overwhelming feedback.
Since then, GSA has continued to assess buildings for expedited disposition on a case-by-case basis.
Although the Peachtree Summit has been flagged for disposal, the Sam Nunn complex, which initially appeared on the 443-property list, has not resurfaced on GSA’s list of properties slated for sale.
GSA emphasized that each federal property is evaluated on its own merits and that the Sam Nunn center is not currently under consideration for disposal.
Being responsible for the federal government’s real estate holdings, GSA’s mission includes disposing of federal properties that are no longer needed or incur financial burdens on taxpayers.
Additionally, it’s important to note that the Nunn center previously dealt with a rodent infestation during the pandemic period.
In response, GSA signed a $3.2 million contract in 2022 aimed at eliminating unwanted pests from the facility, attributing the issue to various factors, including construction in the vicinity.
image source from：https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/06/significant-leak-shuts-down-11-floors-of-huge-atlanta-federal-office-complex/
