Charlotte’s iconic Central Y was one such storied place. Located on Morehead Street adjacent to Uptown in the booming South End neighborhood near historic Dilworth, the Central Y had served as Charlotte’s flagship Y since its construction in 1964. Over the years, a series of ad hoc additions and renovations had addressed pressing needs, but created a jumble of spaces. A long, thin seven-story residential tower and other buildings with pools, fitness areas, racquetball and basketball courts, and locker rooms needed to be unified and updated for a new era of use.
When it came time to undertake a major renovation, the client wanted to take advantage of the site’s highly desirable location along the pedestrian-oriented light rail system. Over the years, suburban Y’s had out paced metro Y’s in terms of facilities and amenities; however, with its proximity to Uptown and the diverse and growing population of South End, this project presented the opportunity to attract a broader membership and restore the branch.
