Hyatt Regency Atlanta undergoing $65M facelift - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

An Atlanta landmark is undergoing renovations. Workers are putting the final touches on a $65 million overhaul of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

Once one of the highest structures in the city, some have called the top of the Hyatt Regency a blue spaceship; pilots used to refer to it as "the blue hamburger."

"This is an iconic part of Atlanta's history," said senior engineer Randy Childers.

When it was built in 1967, famed Atlanta architect John Portman designed the building for the space age, from the one-of-a-kind top to a newer kind of interior that's been copied all over the world.

But after 45 years, it needed some work. So now the finishing touches are being put on a $65 million top to bottom renovation.

For the first time in more than 40 years, the windows are gone from the top of the Hyatt. They'll replace them on Saturday, but there have been big changes in downtown Atlanta since it was one of the tallest buildings in the city.

"The blue dome of Polaris was visible from every place in the city and it was the highest point in Atlanta at the time of opening," said Childers.

While it's now surrounded by taller buildings, the "Mad Men"-era  masterpiece still holds a special place in the hearts of lifelong Atlantans.

"I can't tell you how many times people come up and tell us their story about where they became engaged or where they went to prom," said Childers.

The next step of renovation is reopening of the rotating Polaris restaurant, which closed in 2005.