SCAD Atlanta Unveils SCADstory

Words by Paige Townley

Atlanta has never been short on good stories, but the one unfolding on Peachtree Street might just be its very best yet. Savannah College of Art and Design’s (SCAD’s) Atlanta campus has hit a major milestone—20 years of shaping, showcasing, and launching bright minds into brilliant careers.

How does a world-renowned university known for being the most comprehensive art and design school in the world celebrate two decades of innovation? With a story, of course. But true to their trailblazing creativity, it’s not just any story—it’s SCADstory Atlanta, an immersive, 4D experience that takes guests on a heartfelt journey of dreams, ambition, and the powerful world of imagination.

Introducing SCADstory Atlanta

SCADstory Atlanta is a full-sensory storytelling experience that walks viewers through the heart of the university’s past, present, and ever-expanding future. Inspired by the success of SCADstory in Savannah, this new iteration is both a celebration and an invitation to step inside the soul of SCAD and witness the beautiful things that happen where dreams meet design.

“The debut of SCADstory Atlanta feels like a homecoming—personally and professionally,” shares SCAD President and Founder, Paula Wallace. “After all, it was in Atlanta that I began my journey as a teacher, where the dream of SCAD first took flight. SCADstory brings that dream full circle, inviting guests to witness the wonder, joy, and creative spark that fuel every dream, especially those our brilliant students bring to SCAD.”

Not ironically, it’s those students—along with a variety of SCAD alumni and faculty—who helped bring SCADstory Atlanta to life. Perhaps that’s an aspect of the project that makes it even more special: it’s not just about SCAD, but it’s also built by SCAD. More than 30 contributors from across the university’s award-winning degree programs came together to design and build the experience. The end result of the collaborative affair is what Wallace refers to as a “magical” experience—one that emphatically illustrates why SCAD is so much more than just another university. Rather, it’s more of a launchpad for dreamers.

A Celebration of Legacy and Vision

For two decades, SCAD has been a creative cornerstone of the South, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. While the university is taking a moment to savor the past and look back on 20 years in Atlanta, the forward-thinking university continues to look ahead at how to best train the next generation of creative thinkers. SCADstory Atlanta speaks to both, providing a nostalgic look back at what has been, while also making a bold statement of what is to come. And as always with SCAD, it does so with a creativity that inspires and a good story that’s worth the visit.

SCADstory Atlanta is a full-sensory storytelling experience that walks viewers through the heart of the university’s past, present, and ever-expanding future.