Introducing the Carolina Theatre Project
Foundation For The Carolinas is poised to bring a once-proud theater back to life as a dynamic civic hub in the heart of Uptown Charlotte.
When it opened in 1927, the Carolina Theatre was a beautifully crafted performance venue, designed to evoke the opulence of a Mediterranean palace. Now, FFTC is working with award-winning architectural design team DLR on a plan to restore the long-vacant Carolina Theatre to its original grandeur and create a vital civic engagement space. The team is committed to maintaining the historical design, recreating the murals in the 1927 style and restoring the original façade and decorative plaster and moldings.
Opening in 2024, the theatre will present a broad array of civic engagement offerings and arts & culture events to Charlotte and the region by presenting high quality, formal and informal civic experiences and other popular content, often with a civic twist. Guests in the new space will experience state of the art technology, such as projection mapping and data visualization, that will create an immersive environment that enhances communication and understanding.
The 950 seats will be arranged to allow you the flexibility to craft your preferred viewing experience. In addition to the traditional theatre seats, you can sit next to your guests in love seats, enjoy a drink in lounge seats or banquettes, or carve out a bit of privacy in box seats.
The Theatre’s lead philanthropic gift was made possible by the Belk family, Katherine Belk and the late Thomas M. Belk, and the late Claudia and John M. Belk. Their early commitment to the Carolina Theatre served as a catalyst for FFTC’s campaign effort.
The total Carolina Theatre project requires a $78 million investment for design and construction. Thanks to the generosity of the Belk family, City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County and private donors, the funding needed to achieve this goal has been reached.
Luxury Hotel
A new 5-star hotel will be built above the Theatre lobby. The hotel tower will occupy 23 floors of the new 28-story building that will occupy the footprint of the former pocket park at the corner of 6th and Tryon Streets. The tower’s sleek and elegant design will be a striking addition to the Charlotte skyline.
The hotel is being developed by Salter Brothers and will be operated by Valor Hospitality Partners. Salter Brothers and Valor have formed a strategic partnership for this hotel, as well as projects in other major cities in the USA. Both firms have a solid reputation for developing and operating high end luxury hotels in the United States and abroad.
The entrance will be off East 6th Street, and guests will enter a landing lobby and travel by elevator to the hotel sky lobby located on the 26th floor. The hotel plans for 244 guest rooms with splendid views of uptown Charlotte and its surrounding neighborhoods. Amenities to complement the luxury guest experience will include a rooftop restaurant and bar, guest suites, ballroom, meeting space and fitness center.
