This project aims to utilize the site's elevation changes to create exterior spaces that connect the light rail level to the streetscape, while highlighting the historical context and engaging the local community. A key focus is to link the site to the historic Brooklyn Buildings across Brevard Street, reinforcing its historical significance. The design promotes transit-oriented development to serve as a gateway to Uptown Charlotte, leveraging proximity to the light rail and the central bus station.

The program will enhance transportation options and guide occupants through the site, connecting current conditions with historical and neighborhood contexts. An exterior marketplace will reflect Brooklyn's history as a thriving community, while a proposed museum and gallery will support local artists and historians. The podium beneath the market will house maker spaces and artist studios, complementing local small businesses at street level.

The site is historically significant, with three remaining buildings along Brevard Street representing Charlotte’s Brooklyn neighborhood, an African American community that was displaced during urban renewal projects in the 1950s and 60s. Our project aims to connect with this rich history through architecture and exterior spaces.

Emphasizing community strength and resiliency, the high-rise office tower will harmonize with the human scale of the streetscape and the urban scale of Charlotte. The design integrates passive and bioclimatic approaches to create a sustainable architectural model.

Situated between 3rd and 4th Streets along S. Brevard Street, our site is a prime access point for residents and tourists, benefiting both Uptown and Mecklenburg County. As the Light Rail expands, public transit accessibility will improve.

Currently, the site is underutilized as surface parking for commuters. Due to the steep topography, vertical circulation between the bus station, parking lots, and elevated light rail is necessary. Our design aims to enhance these connections, promoting transit usage and community engagement through public exterior spaces.

The variation in elevation allows for a dynamic streetscape and pathway that connects the rail trail and light rail station to historic buildings along Brevard Street. This relationship will merge exterior art and farmers' market spaces with supportive programs linked to the Brooklyn Collective, which honors the neighborhood's history.

The site falls within the 3A climate zone, characterized by humid subtropical weather, which influences our design. We will implement a double-skin facade system to optimize natural ventilation, while the building's orientation will face south to maximize sunlight and airflow.

A solar chimney will circulate warm and cool air throughout the tower, using solar energy and prevailing winds. In winter, sunlight heats the air in the chimney, which can be circulated back into living spaces for warmth. In summer, the chimney vents hot air while drawing in fresh air.

We will also incorporate a geothermal heat pump system for efficient heating and cooling. In winter, it draws heat from the ground to warm the tower, while in summer, excess heat is either released back into the ground or used to heat domestic water.

The project will utilize steel construction and low-carbon concrete to support the podium and the tower's curvilinear southern facade. The stacked office blocks feature an exoskeleton system that provides structural support and aesthetic appeal. This design allows for rainwater collection, channeling water from the sloped roof to underground cisterns, while the interaction between the exoskeleton and podium materials defines entrances and pathways.

The project integrates both passive and active bioclimatic strategies to enhance occupant comfort and reduce energy consumption. A mixed-mode mechanical system featuring hydronic radiant heating and cooling panels will replace traditional HVAC systems in office spaces, optimizing fresh air delivery with smaller ductwork. For areas with higher occupancy, a variable air volume (VAV) air-handling unit will be utilized for its energy efficiency. Smaller air-based systems will complement thermally active systems to manage ventilation and humidity, with a focus on minimizing air-based systems in office areas. A heat recovery ventilator will reclaim energy from the heating system on the tower's top floor.

The project is best represented by a focus area that begins at the museum and gallery along Brevard Street and extends through the market space connected to the light rail, passing through the tower's podium and atrium. This section showcases community services, public amenities, and bioclimatic strategies that promote healthy working conditions. The museum highlights the historical connections to the Brooklyn neighborhood, while the market fosters opportunities for small businesses and community spirit, linking to the rail trail.

The podium design includes a main lobby and mezzanine, providing access to the atrium and first office floor. Bioclimatic elements are incorporated, with the atrium supplying conditioned air via geothermal pumps, while office floors receive air from the air handling unit (AHU) enhanced by a solar chimney.

Overall, the project aims to enhance site conditions and embrace environmental factors through bioclimatic strategies, creating a cohesive experience that honors the neighborhood's history and minimizes the carbon footprint throughout the building’s lifecycle.