Title: McColl Arts Center Annex
Location of Proejct: Charlotte, North Carolina
Project Completion Date: 03/2020
Firm Name:

Short Description: The McColl Center Annex is focused on reusing the ruins of an old structure in order to connect to the McColl Center for Arts and Innovation as well as the city of Charlotte. This project services the McColl Center by adding gallery and studio space that is focused around the community's engagement with the Center. The McColl Center holds an important relationship and history within the city of Charlotte, and this project adds another story to its chapter as a cultural hub.

Architect's Statement: Seeking to provide and build upon the McColl Center’s goal to be in the middle of the art scene in Charlotte, the architecture of The McColl Center Annex is designed with the city’s relationship to the Center in mind. The addition sought to create two main spaces, one for studio space and another to display the art created by citizens of Charlotte for the people of Charlotte.

Set on the edge of the main downtown area of Charlotte, the McColl Center is an old stone cathedral turned arts center, servicing artists from around the world by providing artist residency and gallery space. Remodeled in 1999 to fit that program, the original priest’s house was neglected and still remains in ruins today, just behind the monolithic structure.

The programmatic relationship between the adjacent structures was the driving factor behind the design. Mostly with space reserved for artist residency and gallery, the one area we felt it lacked was a space designated for the use of the surrounding community.The architecture sought to make a clear distinction between the pre-existing structure and the new, indicating the division between the two main programmatic functions of the building, creating a strong contrast between these two spaces while still sharing a common space.