Charlotte Arts Master Plan

[fulcrumsf]

Great find Atlrvr, I really love this project the more I look at it. It's very different.

[cltheel.sdl]

Wow - this looks great!

[krazeeboi]

Pretty awesome renderings!

[uptownliving]

Nice find atlrvr. Freelon Group is definately one of my favorite architecture groups. I think that the AACC might just be the best looking one out of all the Wachoiva Arts buildings.

[infobuff]

Thanks atlrvr. This is a wonderul find. If built to rendering, the AACC will enrich Charlotte tremendously.

[AuLukey]

There's no condo tower in those renderings. Hopefully it's just a bad angle.

[cltheel.sdl]

I think the office tower is blocking the condo tower. The condo tower is behind the Wachovia tower.

[Skyline49er]

I really like the top part of the building where they have a couple of people standing outside. Does anyone know what this could be used for?

[peaceloveunderstanding]

So what's an AACC? Is it like a museum?

The rendering looks pretty good, it will be very different from anything currently downtown. That road will have some neat buildings within a few years: this AACC, and the NASCAR HOF being two.

[rockhilljames]

Man. I'm hoping that the Wachovia Tower really has a dramatic finish on top.

Cause that's just....bland.

Love the AACC. I think it's the best of the bunch.

[Durhamite]

So what's an AACC? Is it like a museum?

The rendering looks pretty good, it will be very different from anything currently downtown. That road will have some neat buildings within a few years: this AACC, and the NASCAR HOF being two.

It stands for the African American Cultural Center (basically a museum dedicated to African American history & culture, and I suppose this one will emphasize Charlotte and the Carolinas contributions from African Americans but surely include national contributions).

The exterior design of the buildings seems to reflect a quilt (as least that's my intrepretation). The myth is that quilts were designed to convey hidden messages indicating a "safe-house" as fleeing slaves traveled along the Underground Railroad.

http://www.antiquequiltdating.com/ugrr.html

http://www.historyofquilts.com/hpowers.html

True or not, quilts still played a major role in the fabric of AA history, if for nothing else to keep warm as a result of the shortage of clothing, etc during and after slavery. My great-aunts and relatives made some of the BEST quilts and I still have some today.

If the interior content is comparable to the exterior rendering, it'll definitely be one of the premiere AA museums in the US.

[uptownliving]

The Charlotte Afro-American Cultural Center will house art gallaries and performance space, and meeting rooms. They will house the Hewitt Collection of art which is considered to be one of the best collections of African-American art in the USA. In their current location they can only display a small part of the collection.

The rooftop terrace will be available for rent similar to the current Mint Museum of Craft + Design.

[Miesian Corners]

So what's an AACC? Is it like a museum?

The rendering looks pretty good, it will be very different from anything currently downtown. That road will have some neat buildings within a few years: this AACC, and the NASCAR HOF being two.

Afro American Cultural Center is an organization that presents performing, visual and education programs that celebrate the contributions of African Americans within the region and the impact of cultural expression from Africa to the African Diaspora.

[peaceloveunderstanding]

Thanks, the whole project sounds great.

[uptownliving]

This is what the site of the future AACC looks like today. You can see they have made some good progress on the tunnel under Tryon St.

[rjp212]

what exactly is the tunnel under tryon for?

[uptownliving]

The tunnel will be a Service Entrance for the Wachovia Tower going up across the street. This is where all service vehicles will enter/exit.

[atlrvr]

Here are some nice new renderings of the Mint.

http://www.themintmuseums.org/expansion_facility.php

It also provides a good scale of how the two towers will relate in height, without the annoying plexiglass distorting it.

Also, here is a new rendering of the "backside" of the AACC....of course it is designed without windows with the expectation that in the future another building will abut it. I think they did a fine job.

[dubone]

That is impressive design for a facade that is zero-lot-line and will almost certainly be covered by a building going up on Eastern Federal's land. I am very happy with the design of the building, even if the site contraints caused them to pick a simple box for their overall form.

[tiblerbrit]

The retail along 1st? street for the Mint looks like it will be well done.

[moving uptown]

so the condo tower will be on top of the mint museum? the cond tower is looking ~ 600 ft (not bad)

[Mobuchu]

Damn does that AACC look good!! I think this is going to be one of my all time favorite buildings..

[uptownliving]

I agree the architects have done a great job with a very tight space to build in. So far this is my favorite of the Cultural center buildings going up....its even better than the Wachovia tower.

[krazeeboi]

Also, here is a new rendering of the "backside" of the AACC....of course it is designed without windows with the expectation that in the future another building will abut it. I think they did a fine job.

Is that some type of wall with lights separating the AACC from St. Peter's? It looks horrible.

[monsoon]

Is that some type of wall with lights separating the AACC from St. Peter's? It looks horrible.

Indeed. Though we have seen the pretty rendering thing here before where what you see is not what you get. I guess we will have to wait until something more representative comes out.