Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel has reopened following a three-year top-to-bottom renovation. Leading the redesign was Janet Garland Caponi, associate principal for LS3P Associates. “There were definite opportunities within the existing architectural space such as the four-story atrium flooded with natural light, the fountains, and the intimate courtyard,” she says. “The goal was to invigorate the space by enhancing these existing elements which easily blend the inside and out, while at the same time provide a unique local experience that stays true to the Renaissance brand.”
Garland Caponi looked to Queen Charlotte, a notable patron of the arts whose love of classical music and botany inspired the design team to use art to weave her passions throughout the interior space. In the lobby, a chandelier cascades like rain drops, while translucent panels behind the front desk are embedded with ferns. Flagstones restaurant and the Bar at Flagstones open up to the atrium, now featuring a fountain and trees that provide a tall canopy.
The 264 guestrooms are outfitted in a bold color scheme, local photography, and custom furnishings. The eco-friendly fitness center boasts floors made from recycled rubber, recycled content in the wallcovering, reused and painted ceiling tiles, and ribbon-patterned artwork comprising recycled water bottles. Other areas receiving upgrades include 9,000 square feet of function space, indoor pool, and sauna.
