The Atrium

The Atrium is a historic base in central Port Thomas. It was the main base of ThatIsPeter for most of 2011 and the starting point for the metropolis of Port Thomas. The Atrium is owned by Atrium Mining Company.
== History ==
=== Establishment ===
The site of the atrium was established as a base in early January 2011. ThatIsPeter was diamond mining from the Spawnsville Building and encountered lava. He stubbornly decided to excavate it rather than turn back or go around it. A small opening with chest and furnace were created to support the excavation of the lava and obsidian. By the time the lava pool was finally cleared there was a reasonable hollow with a decent store of supplies. 
=== Underground Base ===
The lag underground was significantly better than on the surface, so the decision was made to make the hollow the main base. The hollow was extended upwards to allow for trees to be grown in the new base. After the first tree grew it became apparent that more space was needed, so the hollow was extended again to facilitate larger trees. 
Several rooms were built around the base's centre under the dome. A wheat farm provided a self sufficient food supply underground and furnace and store rooms were added. A bedroom, swimming pool and throne room were also added.
=== Excavation of The Atrium ===
After several expansions upwards, it was decided to extend the atrium to the surface to bring light into the base. The extensions were done in stages using TNT and hand mining. The atrium reached the surface roughly on the shoreline of what would become Capital Island. Land around The Atrium was reclaimed using cobblestone and the top was finished with a glass dome.
=== Founding of Port Thomas ===
Once the world was transferred to a more capable computer in late January 2011, development at and near the surface was intensified. The town of Port Thomas was established around the surface of The Atrium. A dock with De Mooie Boot was built near the dome, as was a lighthouse and The Dock Building.
With increased activity at the surface and lag no longer being an issue, a new area of the base was created at the top of The Atrium, just below the surface. Dozens of chests were placed here and the surface was accessible from The Dock Building, which also housed new furnaces. A precious goods bunker was built to the east of the main chest room for diamond and gold.
=== Decline in Use ===
ThatIsPeter officially moved to 10 Circumference Road around March 2011, but The Atrium remained the de facto base for most of 2011. Towards the end of the year, a new store room at 10 Circumference Road was transitioned to and The Atrium was used less and less to store goods. The last part of The Atrium to be used routinely was the precious goods room, which was used well into 2012 until a suitable replacement was built at 10 Circumference Road.
An entrance into the upper chest room was added from the Small Pyramid, which also provided access to a new mall west of the chest room. In 2014 10 Circumference Road and Port Thomas Central Station were also linked underground to the chest level with their respective underground expansions.
=== Recent History ===
Between 2014 and 2015 the Big Underground Quarry was excavated around The Atrium. Although the main sections of The Atrium were preserved, many of the historic caves branching from the base were lost or damaged. In 2018 the historic main surface entrance to the base was lost with the demolition of The Dock Building. The entrance via the Small Pyramid was destroyed with the 2019 Pyramid Bombing and was never restored.
Significant changes were made to the surface in early 2020. Kings' Boulevard was rerouted underground, which destroyed roughly half of the upper chest level and the surface on three sides of the dome was raised for a new public square.
== Access ==
As the base has fallen into disuse it has become harder to access, nevertheless it can still be accessed via
* Big Underground Quarry - from all sides deep underground
* 10 Circumference Road - through the basement
* The old Parliament building - from a tunnel starting in the basement offices
* High street fountain - secret ladder
Category:Port Thomas
Category:Landmarks
Category:Stephens District
Category:Historic Buildings