The Bowl at Ballantyne

Charlotte, NC

The Bowl at Ballantyne transforms a portion of Charlotte's traditional suburban office landscape into a vibrant, walkable mixed-use destination. Part of Northwood's larger Ballantyne Reimagined initiative, the 20-acre development introduces a dynamic mix of retail, dining, residential, and entertainment experiences to the established 535-acre Ballantyne campus. Guided by the concept "Where Urban Meets Garden," the project embraces the site's natural surroundings while creating new opportunities for community connection.

In collaboration with LandDesign and other project partners, Cooper Carry provided architecture and experiential graphic design services to help create a cohesive, pedestrian-friendly environment. The firm's architectural scope included seven retail shell buildings, the Stream Park Pavilion, and ground-floor retail within the residential development, bringing a new sense of place to the evolving district.

Project Team

View Bio

Jim Babinchak

Leadership

View Bio

Kevin Kern

Leadership

View Bio

Kevin Roberts

Leadership

View Bio

Andy Bryant

Senior Associate

View Bio

Carrie Goforth

Senior Associate

View Bio

Josie Holden Bulla

Senior Associate

View Bio

Monica Whitmire

Senior Associate

project scope

20-Acre Mixed-Use Development

design services

Architecture, Experiential Graphic Design

Studios

Mixed-Use, Multifamily Residential, Retail

CLient

Northwood Office

Awards

2024 Award Winner, Great Suburban Design Category, Charlotte Urban Design Awards
2025 BNC Building North Carolina Awards, Renovation

In The News

NAIOP Development: Activating a Community to Thrive Beyond the 9-to-5

Urban Land: Where Urban Meets Garden: Adapting a Traditional Office Park into an 18-Hour Mixed-Use Destination with Multifamily, Hotel and Retail

RENDERINGS: Northwood Investors gives new peek at OMB-anchored The Bowl at Ballantyne

Creating a Walkable Main Street Experience

At the heart of The Bowl is a Main Street-inspired retail and dining district designed to encourage exploration and interaction. Inviting storefronts, expansive glass facades, deep canopy overhangs, and outdoor dining terraces create a seamless relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. A central urban green provides a natural gathering place, while rooftop dining decks and elevated terraces offer additional opportunities to enjoy the surrounding landscape.

The streetscape draws inspiration from the Dutch woonerf, or “living street,” where pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles share space in a more connected environment. This approach, combined with new roads and pedestrian infrastructure, supports accessibility and encourages visitors to move comfortably throughout the development.

Connecting People to Nature and Place

The design builds upon Ballantyne’s established network of trails, mature trees, and open green spaces. Stream Park, created from the former golf driving range, introduces recreational opportunities and gathering spaces that complement the retail district. A new pedestrian bridge spanning the restored McAlpine Creek connects the park to The Bowl, strengthening access between destinations.

Bringing the District's Identity to Life

Cooper Carry’s Experiential Graphic Design Studio developed a colorful signage and wayfinding program that reinforces the development’s identity and helps visitors navigate the district on foot, by bicycle, or by car. Integrated throughout the site, these graphics complement the architecture and landscape while creating a recognizable visual experience.

Together, the architecture, public spaces, and experiential graphics help establish The Bowl at Ballantyne as a destination that extends activity beyond the traditional workday, bringing new energy, accessibility, and community life to South Charlotte.