The AtLAST consortium is aiming at building and operating the next large single-dish facility to observe the sky at sub-mm wavelengths from Chile. AtLAST will constitute a leap in capabilities compared to existing facilities, enabling transformational science and will be highly complementary to observatories operating in the following decades, such as ALMA or SKA.Among the many outcomes from the recently completed EU-funded design study led by a set of transformational science cases covering the most important areas of astrophysics, are a robust conceptual mechanical and optical design, a comprehensive operations plan and suggestions for an innovative energy system, all paying close attention to sustainability aspects.The second EU-funded phase of the project (AtLAST2) started in January 2025, and Spain has a prominent participation in the consortium through leading Spanish research institutions, namely IAC, UCM and ICE-CSIC. In this new phase, we will enhance the technological readiness of crucial components of AtLAST, prototype innovative solutions and, towards the end of the project, undergo a preliminary design review, all by the projected conclusion of the project in mid-2028.