The building was designed in 1985/86 by Heery Architects and Engineers, with John Cheek as the project architect and Joe Gottardy as the lead mechanical engineer.[4] Construction was completed in 1987. Originally called First Union Plaza, the building served as the headquarters for First Union National Bank of Georgia, which later merged into First Union.[5][6] In 1988 the Atlanta-based law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP moved into the location, where they have remained to the current day.[7] In February 2007, the property was purchased by Jamestown L.P. The next year, Jamestown hired Cousins Properties to manage the property.[8] In 2010, Empire State South, a restaurant owned by restaurateur Hugh Acheson, opened in the building.[9] Jamestown later sold the property in 2013 to Franklin Street Properties for $157.9 million.[10][11] Shortly after the purchase, Franklin announced that Hines Interests Limited Partnership had been chosen to manage the property.[12] In 2019, the building received LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.[13] 999 Peachtree was purchased from Franklin and is presently owned by Piedmont Office Realty Trust.[14]