We are proud to announce that V3 has won a 2025 ACEC North Carolina Engineering Excellence Honors Award for Site Design! This annual competition celebrates engineering and surveying firms for projects which demonstrate the highest degree of achievement, value, and ingenuity—we are thrilled to be recognized for our work on Crown Plaza in Charlotte, NC. Learn more about this award-winning project and how we transformed an outdated space into a vibrant and dynamic urban area.
Located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, the Crown Plaza has been a jewel of the Queen City’s urban scene since the early 1980s. The 27,000-square-foot plaza was originally designed and constructed to feature a central 60-foot-tall granite and glass clock tower with surrounding water fountains. The client selected V3 through a competitive process to significantly transform the plaza. V3 provided civil engineering and landscape architecture design services, modernizing the space within a budget while ensuring flexibility for various uses.
The client and V3 worked together to envision a transformative public plaza centered around a recessed 8,000-square-foot gathering space. The focal point of the plaza and dominant feature is a 20,000-pound Allee Elm tree that stretched 40 feet in height. This signature tree is complimented by adjacent pedestrian spaces which were reimagined as both intimate and expansive public spaces.
Capitalizing on the prime location of this active city space, V3 utilized multiple design elements to enhance the user experience. Reimagined concrete planters with linear lighting provide spatial separation, seating opportunities, and lush vegetation with accent trees. The new radial paver design, consisting of textured porcelain tiles and select granite banding, reinforces the natural feeling of being in a garden buffered from city distractions.
Another important enhancement to note is the plaza’s main entrance, where existing glass-block columns were replaced with contemporary versions enhanced by vertical light elements. This monumental entrance frames the street view into the plaza, showcasing the sculptural stage erected around the signature tree. This stage is complimented by an inviting open space comprised of synthetic turf and warm hardwood decking.
V3’s role included obtaining land development permits with the City of Charlotte and utility permits with Mecklenburg County. They prepared detailed engineering drawings including ADA accessibility evaluations, as well as plans for grading and drainage, landscaping, lighting, and demolition. The demolition process was intricate, requiring selective demolition to avoid compromising drainage or waterproofing. V3 coordinated with multiple contractors to ensure the process was executed efficiently.
A standout feature was the transplantation of a 15-year-old, 40-foot-tall tree which was delivered by truck from Georgia. This 20,000-pound tree was then transitioned to its current placement with the use of a crane structure. V3 analyzed the subsurface structure to ensure it could accommodate the tree’s weight, both at installation and at maturity. They engineered space for the tree roots, irrigation, and nutrients to ensure the tree’s survival.
Additionally, V3 designed a vibrant orange sculptural shroud around the tree base, serving multiple functions. This shroud was engineered to be lightweight to avoid structural issues while being multifunctional, acting as an amphitheater for seating and a bandstand for events. It also serves as a central gathering place for YMCA fitness classes. The lighting system is Bluetooth-controlled, allowing dynamic color changes for various events. Ground-penetrating radar was used to ensure the waterproofing membrane was not compromised, and a unique irrigation system was implemented to support the transplanted tree. During the night, the site now glows with more than 700 linear feet of colored LED lights that have been woven throughout the space and will respond to holidays, sporting events, weddings, and more.
V3’s comprehensive approach in combining design creativity with engineering expertise ensured the successful transformation of the Crown Plaza into a dynamic and versatile urban space. Thank you to ACEC NC for recognizing our commitment to excellence, and congratulations to our fellow 2025 award winners!
