Little
Lowe’s Global Tech Hub
Where Hardware Meets Software
Charlotte, North Carolina
Project Type
Interiors, Office
Size
357,500 Square Feet
Design Services
Architecture, Brand Experience, Engineering, Interior Architecture
As Lowe’s Home Improvement, a leading Fortune 50 organization, celebrated its 100th anniversary during an unprecedented pandemic, the goal to create a transformational Global Technology Hub in Charlotte, North Carolina, never wavered.
Through bold real estate decisions, creative partnerships, and an innovate-or-die mindset, a project potentially paralyzed by global shutdowns, supply chain disruptions, and a workplace revolution pressed forward. The result became a catalyst for local development, a neighborhood partner for the community, a magnet for diverse technology talent, and a new competitive advantage for one of the nation’s top retailers.
Design Awards
- CORE Net Carolinas Project of the Year >100K SF
- IFMA Carolinas Innovation of the Year
Project Goals
Keeping up with the times
With online sales continuing to grow and technology advancements in brick-and-mortar stores becoming necessary to provide the best customer and associate experience, Lowe’s saw a need to grow and expand their technology talent and presence.
Objectives
- Create an environment that promotes innovation
- Attract and retain top technology talent
- Shape a belief that advancements in technology evolve the Lowe’s brand by elevating the associate and customer experience
- Ignite the surrounding community by sharing the organization’s passion and culture
Solutions
Little played a vital role in transforming Lowe’s workplace for today’s hybrid work environment. Three floors feature adaptable pods, fostering intercommunication, new relationships, and innovation. This enhanced office arrangement has boosted productivity and employee well-being.
EMPLOYEE-CENTRIC OFFICE SPACE
The Tech Hub is a space that adapts to modern employees’ newfound needs
The new office space offers a library for quiet focus, flexible workspaces, and a two-level auditorium with panoramic views of the city skyline. There is also an impressive Innovation Team Lab where Lowe’s pushes the envelope on VR and AR technology, along with multiple spaces for games and socializing. To nurture a welcoming and supportive environment, a rooftop terrace and a peaceful lounge were added to promote breaks and relaxation.
BUILDING UP LOCAL COMMUNITY
Lowe’s new office space in South End has helped grow the ever-changing area.
The project’s scale and prestige served as a catalyst for development in South End, inspiring other businesses of similar size to invest in office spaces in the neighborhood. The Tech Hub also brought over 2,000 associates to the region, sparking the quick expansion in food, beverage, and service retail to support the entire community.
Interactive 360 Tour
Our Digital Visualization team developed this fully interactive 360 virtual tour to help showcase the experience of the space prior to completion.
ALL IN THE DETAILS
Meaningful design elements are woven throughout the space.
At every turn, thoughtful details pay tribute to Lowe’s brand and mission, including an overhead sculpture reminiscent of steel soaring on a construction site, curiosity troughs containing home improvement items like bolts, screws, and pliers set in place as art, and a stacked lumber desk in the lobby. To support the brand’s dedication to innovation and technology, guests are welcomed to the space by a large-scale screen portal with compelling digital content, which leads to a video wall featuring evolving branded content at the elevator lobby.
“Our biggest asset remains our associates. And what the building does is enable them to do their best work.”
Seemantini Godbole
Chief Information Officer and Executive VP, Lowe’s
Results
The building reflects the roots of Lowe’s in an office that is centered around technology
Lowe’s Global Tech Hub is where hardware meets software—a highly collaborative, agile workspace that consistently reminds its associates of how their work propels the Lowe’s customer and associate experience forward.
