When Ballantyne first emerged out of farmland, more than 30 years ago, the original developers of this master-planned project already had a concrete vision in mind for its future: evolution. The development team intrinsically understood that, as Ballantyne—an affluent community nestled in south Charlotte, North Carolina—would expand beyond its farmland roots, the project would need to adapt to meet the needs of a more diverse and changing demographic.

Spanning 20 acres (8.1 ha) of the 535-acre (216.5 ha) development, Phase I of The Bowl at Ballantyne directly reflects the metamorphic intent for the property. This mixed-use community, developed by Northwood Investors, brings new retail, live entertainment, dining, hotel, and multifamily to the site, engaging the natural environment while delivering higher use and mindful density. Upon completion of Phase I, The Bowl will feature up to 1,000 multifamily units, 300,000 square feet (27,871 sq m) of retail, and 200 hotel rooms, as well as 4.5 million square feet (418,063 sq m) of office.

With Charlotte’s rapid growth transforming the city into one of the most populous areas in the Southeast and the evolving nature of office space, Ballantyne’s reimagination will ensure that The Bowl at Ballantyne remains a purpose-built community for years to come.

When Northwood Investors purchased Ballantyne in 2017, the site featured dozens of traditional office buildings that daily housed 17,000 employees. Intermingled with the office park was an existing 130-acre (53 ha) golf course that served as a public amenity for the community. The office park was beginning to show its age, however, and the golf course no longer served as the main draw it once did.

As traditional corporate office parks increasingly compete with their highly amenitized modern peers, they require a fresh approach that integrates them into a dynamic experience. With The Bowl at Ballantyne, the objective was to “de-office” the office, allowing the workplace setting to spill over into a lively mixed-use atmosphere. Now, The Bowl provides a walkable, mixed-use gathering spot before, during, and after work. Ballantyne has always been an automobile-centric district. The Bowl has become the new heart and soul of Ballantyne.

To better understand the possibilities of the underused site, the development team tapped LandDesign, Sasaki, and Cooper Carry to devise and execute a redevelopment strategy that would position Ballantyne as a vibrant, mixed-use destination for the next generation of Charlotteans.

Northwood wanted a strategic reconfiguration of the property—one that would enhance naturally occurring features, such as the site’s access to mature trees and open green space, which encapsulated the redeveloped mature landscaping of the existing golf course and the restoration of an existing stream bed. The goal of the resulting master plan, dubbed “Ballantyne Reimagined,” was to transform Ballantyne into an 18-hour destination, where the eight-hour workday extends well into the evening by introducing a complementary mix of retail, dining, and entertainment that dovetails with the office to create a community-oriented environment.

After an intensive three-year rezoning effort, in which Northwood’s vision for Ballantyne was approved by the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, a reimagined Ballantyne began to take shape.

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