Skyline Rising

300 South Tryon

Willa Cather once wrote, “Either a building is part of a place or it is not. Once that kinship is there, time will only make it stronger.” What is it that creates that kinship between a building and its locale? How do architects design buildings which become part of the fabric of their communities, buildings with an inherent sense of “place”? How should our buildings connect and contribute to the public realm, rather than erect boundaries to keep it at bay? These questions are at the heart of every successful and authentic urban design.

Long before 300 South Tryon became an iconic tower in the Charlotte skyline, it was a place. This place lay fallow as a surface parking lot for many years, despite its coveted location in the heart of Uptown. The lot, one of the last available vacant parcels on Tryon Street, was owned by a global investment management firm, and for years was most widely known as a popular tailgating spot for the nearby Carolina Panthers stadium. Conveniently positioned in the middle of the major Uptown economic center, the site was readily accessible to public transit and amenities including a public park and a minor league baseball stadium. The location was ideal; the only thing missing was the right timing.