Originally published in the August 2021 issue of Modern Steel Construction by Jonathan Hurff, Ben Cheplak, Brett Reichard,Jacob Frye
Overview
Charlotte, North Carolina has experienced significant growth in the past decade, bringing an increase in tourism and subsequent demand for more convention space.
The existing Charlotte Convention Center is the prime location for meetings, conferences, and exhibitions in the region due to its proximity to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport as well as being within walking distance to several sports venues and many amenities in the city’s Uptown central business district. While the facility already included an impressive 280,000-sq.-ft exhibit hall, analysis showed that additional meeting rooms and pre-function spaces would increase its value and also accommodate more and larger events.
Given the center’s location in a dense, urban environment, allowing little to no room for horizontal expansion of the facility, the City of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitor’s Authority (CRVA) teamed up with architect tvsdesign to develop a vertical expansion concept to increase the meeting room and pre-function space by 50,000 sq. ft. Not only does the design concept increase the leasable space, but it also transforms a previously utilitarian exterior along the Stonewall Street side of the facility into a prominent and inviting aesthetic. To further enhance the building’s connection to the city, the renovation also introduces an iconic pedestrian bridge linking the center to the adjacent light rail station and development on the other side of Stonewall Street. The new convention center is scheduled to open by the end of the year and incorporated more than 1,400 tons of new structural steel in the expanded portion.
