Optimist Hall
Optimist Hall is a space dedicated to innovation, sustainability, experimentation and urban renewal. The adaptive reuse transforms a 100-year-old hosiery mill into a creative space anchored by an expansive, open marketplace. Located at the corner of 16th Street and Parkwood Avenue, Optimist Hall will include 83,000SF of open office space, a 20,229SF open marketplace and 31,514SF of restaurant and retail space with an outdoor terrace opening toward the city’s light rail.
DETAILS: 126,585-square-foot adaptive reuse of the historic Optimist Hall textile mill in Charlotte, transforming a century-old industrial campus into a vibrant mixed-use destination featuring office space, a public food hall, retail, restaurants, and outdoor gathering areas.
SCOPE OF WORK: General Contractor services for historic preservation, adaptive reuse, structural restoration, tenant improvements, food hall construction, retail and restaurant spaces, office build-outs, site development, outdoor terraces, landscaping, and infrastructure upgrades while preserving the building’s historic character.
SOLUTION: Barnhill revitalized a historic hosiery mill into one of Charlotte’s premier mixed-use destinations by preserving its industrial heritage while creating modern office, dining, retail, and community spaces. The project blends historic architecture with contemporary amenities, delivering an active urban gathering place that celebrates the site’s history while supporting future growth.
