Category Archives: Architecture

Rebooted Park tower uptown adding hotel rooms, possible rooftop restaurant

“The new owners of The Park condo project want to turn the unfinished uptown tower into a hotel.
Naples, Fla.-based Small Brothers filed a rezoning petition with the city to allow 148 hotel rooms alongside 74 residential condo units.
(…) According to a site plan filed with the city, Small Brothers also proposes adding a rooftop restaurant [...]

Duke Energy lights

photo: Matthew Tyndall
This is a pretty vanilla configuration from the top-to-bottom rave lights they’ve been testing recently. Could this be the standard configuration, or will they use more colorful lights on a daily basis?
Click on the image for full size.

The future of the Vue, the Park, and skyscrapers around the world

Skyscrapers on hold around the worldimage: Theo Deutinger, TD Architects
Last week the Vue joined the Park on Charlotte’s list of buildings put on hold due to non-payment. But Charlotte is by no means alone in our struggle to finish what we’ve started.

35-year-old BoA Plaza becomes first LEED Gold building in NC

“LEED certification of Bank of America Plaza was based on a number of green design features and operational best practices that positively impact the property itself and the broader community. The sustainability programs successfully implemented at Bank of America Plaza demonstrate how a building constructed 35 years ago can profitably achieve energy and resource efficiency [...]

Creative Crossroads: Uptown’s new arts venues

photo: James Willamor; view this photo on Flickr
This is the second in a series titled “Creative Crossroads” — where we take a look at the current state of arts and creativity in the city.
Next year looks to be the biggest for arts in Uptown since the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center first opened its doors in [...]

NASCAR Hall of Fame tour at ICV09

photo: James Willamor; view on Flickr
I’m going to leave the debate around the NASCAR Hall of Fame and government overspending behind for just a moment. Because for all the pros and cons, in the end it is a remarkable effort, and a beautiful building.
Following are some of the more interesting facts learned today, and a [...]

ICV09 Center City talk w/ Hugh McColl

photo: Justin Ruckman; view this photo on Flickr
Everybody loves Hugh. As a Charlottean, it’s hard not to.
He had Theater 3 at the Epicentre in the palm of his hand today, talking about Charlotte’s past and what he sees as the future. Here’s a summary.

Charlotte’s greenest hotel set to open this October amidst TARP controversy

rendering: Bank of America; view this rendering on their website
USA Today recently published an article titled “Bank of America getting into the luxury hotel business” which questioned the bank’s decision to build the new Ritz-Carlton Hotel in uptown Charlotte.
Five months from now, the nation’s largest bank is scheduled to open a new, eco-friendly Ritz Carlton [...]

Metropolis by Rob Carter

watch this video on Vimeo
The above video is only the last 3 minutes of Rob Carter’s Metropolis, a stop-motion retrospective of Charlotte’s growth from a Native American trading path to a post-apocalyptic jungle.
You can watch the piece in its entirety over at Carter’s website.
Props to @jritch for finding this.

Green living on Mountain Island Lake

Ever wondered what a “green” house looks and feels like? Now’s your chance to find out. Schreiner Custom Homes, Habitat for Humanity, Horne Heating and Air Conditioning* and Channel 36 — among others — have teamed up to give you a glimpse into the world of residential green.

Now through May 10, the $800,000, 4,200 square [...]