Category Archives: Architecture

Rebooted Park tower uptown adding hotel rooms, possible rooftop restaurant

8 Feb 10 – 10:21 am

“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 [...]

By Justin Ruckman | Also posted in Development, Hospitality, Quick Links, Uptown | Comments (2)

Duke Energy lights

19 Jan 10 – 8:51 pm

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.

By Justin Ruckman | Also posted in Uptown | Comments (3)

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

9 Sep 09 – 1:27 pm

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.

By Justin Ruckman | Also posted in City, Development, Economy, Feature, Uptown, World | Comments (7)

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

9 Jul 09 – 4:19 pm

“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 [...]

By Justin Ruckman | Also posted in Environment, Quick Links, State, Uptown | Comments (3)

Creative Crossroads: Uptown’s new arts venues

28 Jun 09 – 1:23 am

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 [...]

By James Willamor | Also posted in Art, Business, City, Dance, Design, Development, Entertainment, Theater, Uptown | Tagged | Comments (3)

NASCAR Hall of Fame tour at ICV09

19 Jun 09 – 8:39 pm

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 [...]

By Justin Ruckman | Also posted in Business, City, Entertainment, Events, Uptown | Tagged | Comments (1)

ICV09 Center City talk w/ Hugh McColl

17 Jun 09 – 7:02 pm

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.

By Justin Ruckman | Also posted in Business, City, Development, Infrastructure, Transportation, UNC Charlotte, Uptown | Tagged | Comments (3)

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

10 Jun 09 – 10:08 pm

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 [...]

By James Willamor | Also posted in Business, Design, Development, Economy, Real Estate, UNC Charlotte, Uptown | Comments (6)

Metropolis by Rob Carter

7 May 09 – 1:47 am

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.

By Justin Ruckman | Also posted in City, Development, Film, History | Comments (7)

Green living on Mountain Island Lake

27 Apr 09 – 2:25 pm

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 [...]

By Rhi Bowman | Also posted in Design, Environment, Events, Real Estate | Comments (1)