Walk through downtown Syracuse on a Tuesday morning and you’ll inevitably end up near the water. Not the lake, obviously, but the massive reflecting pool that anchors Clinton Square. It’s the heart of the city. Right there, bordering the bricks and the history, sits 2 Clinton Square - The Atrium.
Most people know it as "The Atrium Building," or maybe they just recognize the glass. It’s a 170,000-square-foot Class A office hub that basically acts as a silent witness to everything happening in the square, from the winter ice skating to the chaotic energy of the Jazz Fest.
The Transformation from Department Store to Tech Hub
If you’ve lived in Central New York long enough, you might remember when this spot wasn’t filled with consultants and college satellite campuses. Back in the day—we’re talking 1970s era—this was the site of the Syracuse Mall and the old Edwards Department Store. Honestly, the shift from retail giant to professional office space says a lot about how Syracuse has tried to reinvent itself over the last few decades.
It wasn’t always the polished glass structure you see now. The building underwent a massive identity shift in 1990. That’s when it truly became the modern version of 2 Clinton Square - The Atrium. It was a bet on downtown when many were still fleeing for the suburbs of Liverpool or DeWitt.
Recently, the owners doubled down. In early 2020, they finished a $1.7 million renovation of the common areas. If you walk inside now, you’re hitting 15-foot slab-to-slab ceiling heights and a vibe that feels more like a modern tech campus than a stuffy law office.
Who is actually inside 2 Clinton Square?
It’s a mix. A weirdly perfect mix.
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One of the biggest anchors is the SUNY Oswego Syracuse Campus. You’ll see students ducking in and out for evening classes, keeping the building alive long after the 9-to-5 crowd has cleared out. Then you have the professional heavyweights. Jacobs Civil Consultants recently signed a lease there, which is a big deal. It’s part of that "flight to quality" trend where companies are ditching older, crumbling buildings for spaces with actual amenities and, well, working elevators.
Then there’s the basement. This is my favorite part.
Hidden away on the lower level is ELITE Gaming. It’s an esports and gaming arena that hosts tournaments and birthday parties. It’s tucked into the historic foundation but filled with high-end PCs and neon lights. It’s a strange, cool contrast—civil engineers on the upper floors and teenagers competing in Valorant downstairs.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Location
People complain about parking. Every. Single. Time.
"I'd go downtown, but where do I park?"
If you're heading to 2 Clinton Square - The Atrium, that’s actually a bit of a myth. The building has an on-site lot with about 55 spaces, but the real secret is the Atrium Garage on Franklin Street. The owners actually control over 500 spaces in and around that area. You’ve basically got three different parking options within a one-block radius.
Is it as easy as a Walmart parking lot in Cicero? No. But for downtown, it’s practically a luxury.
Why The Atrium Actually Matters for the Local Economy
Syracuse is in an "Opportunity Zone," and this building sits right in the bullseye. Because it’s Class A office space, it attracts the kind of firms that bring high-paying jobs into the city tax base.
- Visibility: It’s one of the most visible buildings in the city.
- Walkability: It has a Walk Score of 90. You can hit Darwin on Clinton for a sandwich or Darwin’s for... well, also sandwiches, but you get the point.
- Connectivity: It’s seconds away from I-81 and I-690.
The building is currently managed and owned by people who are actually on-site. That matters. When a pipe bursts or a tenant wants to expand, they aren't calling a corporate office in Chicago; they're talking to someone in the building.
The Future of 2 Clinton Square
There is still space available. As of early 2026, there’s about 31,000 square feet up for grabs, ranging from small 1,500-square-foot suites to massive 12,000-square-foot floors.
The "Atrium" name isn't just marketing fluff. The building is designed around a central open space that lets natural light hit the interior offices. In a city where winter lasts roughly seven months, that sunlight is a genuine mental health requirement.
If you are a business owner looking to move downtown, or just a local curious about that big building by the ice rink, here is the reality: 2 Clinton Square - The Atrium is the anchor. It survived the death of the department store, the rise of the internet, and a global pandemic that emptied out most offices. It’s still standing because it’s where the city’s history meets its future.
Actionable Insights for Local Businesses:
If you're considering a move to the building, check the current availability for Suite 350 if you need a large footprint—it’s one of the few Class A spaces left with 12,000+ contiguous square feet in the downtown core. For smaller teams, the lower-level suites offer more competitive rates while still providing access to the main lobby's 2020 upgrades. Always verify the parking lease inclusions before signing, as the owner-controlled garage spots are often negotiable.