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Charlotte, NC

Camp North End

An Incubator for Innovation

status

Ongoing

client

ATCO

expertise

Mixed Use, Public Realm + Open Space, Retail

services

Landscape Architecture Civil Engineering Master Planning

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Revival for Charlotte’s Most Prolific and Historical Site

Camp North End sets the stage for Charlotte’s next great place to live, work, and play, redefining what innovative and sustainable development means for the growing city.

Charlotte’s largest intact historical site, Camp North End, is undergoing an unprecedented revitalization. For over 100 years, the site was closed off to the public — from its inception as an assembly plant for the Ford Motor Company to missile manufacturer for the U.S. Army during the Cold War. Most recently, the site served as a distribution center for Rite Aid until ATCO purchased the industrial site in 2016, marking a new chapter for Camp North End.

LandDesign has been a part of a dynamic public-private-partnership in guiding permitting, phasing, and connectivity to realize the vision to reimagine Camp North End as a walkable, mixed use destination that cultivates an atmosphere of innovation. The 76-acre site is split into five distinct districts, each with its own unique directory of food and beverage, retail, and office opportunities. Connectivity and accessibility are essential to the Camp North End experience. An internal street network unique to the site weaves throughout the development, cutting through existing industrial buildings and connecting patrons to boutique retail and dining. Once complete, Camp North End will house over three million square feet of office, retail, and residential space, as well as 18 acres of integrated public parks and plazas. Future infill development along the periphery of the site will also introduce new residential and commercial uses to the area.

Located two miles from Uptown Charlotte, adjacent to the Brightwalk mixed-income neighborhood, and between two major transportation pathways, the LYNX Blue Line and the future Red Line, Camp North End has become a regional magnet for up-and-coming businesses and forward-thinking retailers. As one of the largest adaptive reuse efforts in the country, Camp North End is proving that it is possible to reclaim an industrial wasteland and create an exciting urban experience.

Our Vision

A Place For Dreamers and Doers

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With the finance industry spearheading development in Uptown, local and emerging businesses were in desperate need for an authentic place to conceptualize, create, and make their mark. Camp North End presented a one-of-a-kind opportunity to create a destination that celebrates diverse thinking where patrons could access lectures, art series, concerts, food, beverage, and retail. Expanding on the vision to preserve the integrity of the site as a place for innovation, Camp North End is occupied by markets, art galleries, creative office space, and pop-up retailers. No corner went unconsidered, creating storefronts out of delivery docks and programming public spaces that activate the site and encourage social gathering.

The Challenge

(Re)Framing the Public Realm

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Transforming Camp North End into a vibrant public realm was no easy feat. Where there wasn’t abandoned industrial buildings, there was asphalt and lush landscaping was scarce. Rather than forcing a preconceived model for activating the space, LandDesign leveraged the site’s natural assets to create a public realm completely unique to Camp North End. Existing materials such as old shipping containers are used to create pedestrian pathways that lead to storefronts hosted in repurposed industrial buildings. The preexisting landscape proved to be an asset, challenging us to rethink how we integrate green space into a highly urban environment. Standalone planters and shade structures offer visitors a brief respite in the most unlikely places. Deliberate placemaking at Camp North End has created a popular place to gather during all seasons and brings history to the forefront, calling to mind the site’s significant impact on Charlotte.

Our Approach

Innovation Applied

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Physical

The site, equivalent to the size of 14 Uptown Charlotte blocks, was littered with industrial buildings from the 1900s. Integrating new development, plazas, and pedestrian pathways into the layout creates a new pedestrian-centric experience

Functional

Located along two major transportation pathways and adjacent to the mixed-income community of Brightwalk, Camp North End is an accessible live, work, play destination for the Charlotte region

Social

Inspired by innovation, Camp North End is a home to non-institutional businesses, local retailers, emerging artists, and forward-thinking chefs, creating a place where diversity and authenticity is celebrated

Homepage Header

Physical

The site, equivalent to the size of 14 Uptown Charlotte blocks, was littered with industrial buildings from the 1900s. Integrating new development, plazas, and pedestrian pathways into the layout creates a new pedestrian-centric experience

Homepage Header

Functional

Located along two major transportation pathways and adjacent to the mixed-income community of Brightwalk, Camp North End is an accessible live, work, play destination for the Charlotte region

Homepage Header

Social

Inspired by innovation, Camp North End is a home to non-institutional businesses, local retailers, emerging artists, and forward-thinking chefs, creating a place where diversity and authenticity is celebrated