Cline Design is thrilled to announce the implementation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) now in effect following the retirement of its founder. The tax-qualified strategy enables employees at Cline Design to own a portion of the company in the form of a unique retirement plan based on the number of consecutive years working at the company and with no personal contribution required.

In addition to a 401K contribution match, paid time off, maternity leave, a competitive health insurance package, flexible spending accounts (FSA), professional development and continuing education offering, exam fee reimbursements, and annual bonuses, the ESOP is an added benefit for Cline Design’s employees’ retirement savings plan.

Cary and Morrisville continue to boom as Research Triangle Park continues to grow. With Apple’s highly anticipated new billion-dollar campus expecting to hire 2,300 employees in the next ten years, the Cary-Morrisville area is taking advantage of the need for more housing, retail, restaurants, and commercial space.

The Walker + One Walker – S. Walker and Walnut Street in downtown Cary

The mixed-use development is located on Walker and Walnut Street and comprises residential, office, retail, and a parking deck. The Walker, which opened in the Fall of 2022, contains 153 residential units, 19,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and a 600-space parking garage with available public parking for visitors.

One Walker, once built, will be adjacent to The Walker and offer five stories of office and retail space totaling 102,000 square feet. Cary’s newest Class A office building will include a rooftop terrace and up to 13 leasable suites.

What’s next: Located adjacent to the Town of Cary’s highly anticipated 7-acre park currently under construction, the area will be a hub for all things live-work-play, with an emphasis reflecting on the exquisite outdoor environment that OBJ has curated. One Walker is set to begin construction soon.

Meridian East Chatham – 229 E. Chatham St.

Northview Partners’ second development on Chatham Street, located a block away from Chatham Walk condos, is expected to start construction in Spring 2023. Meridian East Chatham is a 5-story mixed-use project with 220 planned apartment units, 8,000 square feet of retail, and a 348-space parking deck. It spans 3 acres at 229 E. Chatham Street and totals 285,000 square feet. Cline Design provides land planning, architecture, and interior design services.

Health Park at Davis Drive

Health Park at Davis Drive is a two-story 62,181 square feet Class A office space located at the intersection of Davis Drive and Holly Creek Road in Morrisville, NC. Wake Med has signed a 15-year lease on the building with an option to purchase after five years.

WakeMed’s current facility plans call for a primary care practice, a cardiology practice, an Orthopaedic Urgent Care, a rehab gym, and a lab on the first floor. WakeMed is blocking plans for a pediatric practice, OB-Gyn, and surgery center on the second floor.

In recent news: The project won a Triangle Business Journal 2023 Space Award for Top Office Lease.

Chatham Walk – 105 Chatham Walk Lane

Located on the corner of E. Chatham Street and Urban Drive, Chatham Walk is a convenient 5-minute walk to Downtown Cary’s vibrant community.

Chatham Walk contains 33 condo units and provides an intimate setting for neighbors to gather and for a community to thrive. The outdoor courtyard boasts a fire pit, a river-stone rain feature, and outdoor grilling stations allowing residents to mingle, catch up with old friends, and make new acquaintances.

Novel Cary – 1708 Petty Farm Road

Novel Cary is located across from Alston Town Center and recently completed construction. The development comprises 320 units across six buildings with surface-level parking. Amenities include a rooftop terrace, a cocktail lounge, a community garden with herbs and plants for cooking and grilling, a dog park with a multipurpose lawn, resident bike storage and repair shop, and a saltwater pool with cabanas.

Ashby at Twin Lakes – 905 Lakeford Drive

Coming in 2023, Ashby at Twin Lakes is located in the town of Morrisville at Davis Drive and Lake Grove Boulevard. The community features 230 residential units and incorporates an extension of the greenway trail around Hatchet Pond into its site plan. The project is in a prime location in Cary, with a less than 10-minute drive to Apple’s new campus.

Alta Davis – 615 Corbett Street

Alta Davis opened in 2022 and features 403 units located at 615 Corbett Street in Morrisville.

The Triangle Business Journal’s 2023 Space Awards and the Preservation Society of Charleston’s 69^th Carolopolis Awards presented their award winners on Thursday, February 2, 2023, where Cline Design was recognized for design excellence and preservation for two respective developments. The Ramsey Apartments won a Space Award distinguishing the project as “Top Multifamily Development” in the Triad region. In contrast, 655 East Bay Apartments won a Carolopolis Award in the New Construction category in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Ramsey Apartments, located in Durham, North Carolina, was recognized for its unique amenities, such as a resident wine cellar with a community wine fridge, a reserved guest suite for visitors, and an abundance of courtyards, making the residential outdoor experience a unique space to host, gather and unwind. The project was completed in 2022 and is a new staple to the bourgeoning city on Pettigrew Street.

Cline Design was the Architect, Interior Designer, and Landscape Architect for The Ramsey, with partners including Developer, PGD Pettigrew Gateway, LLC; Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineer, Lighthouse Engineering; and Structural Engineer, McVeigh and Mangum Engineering.

Since 1953, The Preservation Society of Charleston’s Carolopolis Awards has honored historic preservation by recognizing exceptional projects that protect the historic resources of Charleston and the Lowcountry. 655 East Bay’s unique design concept features multiple residential buildings of varying scales and heights, incorporating court streets, small, intimate lanes, and smaller structures with vertical proportions with street-oriented entrances, often found in Charleston’s footprint.

“Working on 655 East Bay was such a unique experience. Not every day do you have the privilege of being part of a project that is so ingrained in the fabric of historic Charleston. Helping to develop historical details was one of the many rewarding challenges that helped me personally grow as an architect,” said Allison Schaefer-Crews, who accepted the award on behalf of Cline.

Cline Design was the Architect of Record, Interior Designer, and Landscape Architect for 655 East Bay with partners including Owner and Developer, Madison Capital Group; Design Architect, Sottile & Sottile; Civil Engineer, Thomas & Hutton; and General Contractor, Harold K Jordan & Co.

The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Charlotte Chapter hosted its “Women in Charlotte Development” panel discussion on January 12th, 2023.

Anna Lynch, P.E., moderated the panel from Lynch Mykins Engineering. The panelists included Rachel Russell Krenz from Ram Realty Advisors, Lilias Folkes John from the City of Charlotte, and Jennifer Sharabba from Crescent Communities. The event highlighted private and public developments the Charlotte region continues to see in its development boom from the perspective of these amazing women making headway in the commercial real estate industry. They touched on their personal experiences that led them to their career and how they navigate the industry.

As we look back on 2022, we’re reminded of how grateful we are to work with great people, clients, and friends that make working at Cline Design more than just a workplace. We look forward to all the memories, projects, and communities we hope to impact in the year ahead. Best wishes in the New Year!

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) 2022 conference was held in San Francisco in the month of November, and Cline Design’s Planning Director and Landscape Architect, Josh Karrick, PLA, ASLA, AICP traveled to The Golden City for 4-days of themed tours and informational sessions geared towards “Designing a Better Future.”

Gary Cline, AIA, Founder of Cline Design, has announced his retirement after 33 years of dedicating his profession to the firm since Cline Design’s inception in 1989. He leaves behind a legacy, closing the door to a venture marked with accolades, exponential firm growth, and integrable design and opening the entryway to the next, with a departure honored at the end of 2022.

The firm’s lasting impact over the years is evident in Raleigh’s growing skyline, confirming Cline Design’s value placed in accommodating the needs of the continually growing community they call home. Simultaneously, they have grown themselves – ranging from design complexity, employee count, and the number of new clients and projects – year after year. The firm’s history dates to what was once known as Cline Davis Architects, eventually becoming Cline Design when in 2000, sole ownership campaigned by Cline signaled a new name and identity. Since then, the firm has grown two-fold and expanded with an additional office in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I’m looking forward to starting this next chapter, and I am very confident I’m leaving the company under great leaders who will continue to prosper and grow the firm. I could not be prouder of what we have accomplished over the last three decades. The scale and quality of our design have grown tremendously since we first started, and Cline Design’s talent is truly unmatched. I’m excited to see what undertakings they accomplish next,” said Cline.

Cline has lent his expertise and knowledge on various speaking engagements including on panels at Bisnow, NAIOP, NAHB, and the North Carolina Apartment Association, and has been featured in publications including the Urban Land Institute, the Triangle Business Journal, News and Observer, and the Charlotte Observer. Under Cline’s leadership, the firm has been distinguished for excellence in design through various forms of recognition. In 2019, Cline Design received the 2019 AIA North Carolina Chapter Firm Award. In addition, The City of Raleigh, The North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, the City of Durham, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, and the national publication, Multi-Family Executive, has also rewarded Cline Design with numerous awards spanning all project types.

Michael Mesnard, AIA, President of Cline Design, praised Cline for his commitment to establishing Cline Design as not only a great place to work, but also fostering a culture that emulates a family-like feel. “I cannot wait to see where Gary’s journey takes him next. He will be missed tremendously, and we are forever thankful that he had a hand in building Cline Design into what it is today.”

If you’ve traveled anywhere around the Raleigh metro area, you’ve surely noticed a lot of new developments emerging. We’re honored to help our clients deliver these developments ranging from mixed-use projects in Downtown Raleigh to garden-style apartments in the suburbs. Here are just a few projects shaping our communities.

Downtown South - intersection of South Saunders Street, South Wilmington Street, and Interstate 40

The third building revealed in Phase I of Downtown South is a 21-story high-rise residential tower with 375 units. The building will include 14,000 square feet of space on the ground level for retail and creative office use. It also boasts approximately seven levels of parking underneath the residential portion, with five additional mid-rise levels built along the eastern facade. 

We are excited to introduce Cline Design’s newest Senior Land Planning Project Manager, Glen Deal, PLA. He brings a diverse set of knowledge pertaining to land planning and urban design, with a passion for mixed-use developments and community placemaking. Glen’s 25+ years of expertise in project types spanning from commercial mixed-use, residential, resort and hospitality, streetscape corridors, senior living, and sports facilities, allows him to bring a unique perspective and prospected opportunities to both the Raleigh and Charlotte studios.

Glen is an active participant in the Urban Land Institute and is excited to be back in the Southeast after living in the Midwest for the past 6 years, where his career began following graduate school at North Carolina State University.

What’s your favorite part of your job as a Land Planner and Landscape Architect?

The hands-on aspect of the iterative planning process. I enjoy being on the drawing board during the early stages of a project and developing a site framework. Every project comes with its own challenges, patterns, and context. It is gratifying to ‘solve the puzzle’ for our clients through collaborative sketching and the generation of conceptual graphics.

What/who made you want to choose your career path? 

My first studio class at Penn State with professor/mentor Perry Morgan – Perry had a huge impact on setting my path forward. Not only is he a gifted landscape architect and illustrator, but a better person who continues to remind me what is most important: family & friendship.

What’s the best advice you would give to someone who just started their career in land planning/architecture?

I would emphasize patience and versatility. Landscape architecture is a very broad practice, with an abundance of public/private sector opportunities, so finding the most suitable job may not be immediate. A willingness to be as versatile as possible will help young landscape architects discover what inspires and satisfies them most in reaching career goals.

How do you describe what you do for a living to your family and friends?

To family and friends: they understand because I probably have shared too much! Most landscape architects have been asked, “can you design my yard?” My response is that I can certainly help (if I have time) but describe my work as master planning at a more extensive scale than small landscapes.

What’s something that has surprised you about your chosen career path?

My career path has allowed me to discover what I enjoy most. I have been lucky to work with many tremendous people along the way. What is surprising is that I have come full circle, back to Raleigh-Durham, where I began my career 28 years ago following graduate studies at NC State. I am both blessed and excited to have recently joined the Cline Design team!

Let’s face it, working remote and the need for flexible work schedules isn’t a new topic. The pandemic thrust the discussion to the forefront. Leadership is grappling with how to adjust their business to meet staff expectations, win the talent war, and continue to be successful.

People are a critical component of that success. Today, your staff might be back in the office full time, taking advantage of a hybrid schedule, or fully remote. They have adapted to a new way of work that, in most cases, gives them the comforts of home.

In the 2021 State of Remote Work report by Owl Labs and Global Workplace Analytics, 36% of respondents believed the office environment was best suited for individual work, 84% preferred to work remotely, and 78% felt more included when in the office.

Time savings, lack of workplace distractions, multitasking personal and work responsibilities, and the ability to see family contributed to the push to work remotely. Conversely, staff burnout, access to office equipment, and at-home distractions make the office attractive.

Companies winning the workforce evolution are mastering maximizing productivity by combining time for focused work, creating space for social interaction, being flexible, providing tools to get the job done, and creating a workplace experience unlike any other.

Fostering this environment includes examining your office design. We dissected the remote work environment and, using our knowledge of resimercial design, created a workplace kit-of-parts that provides unique experiences customized to the disparate needs of an evolving workforce. A trip into the office for a day or several, when designed right, helps staff sacrifice less and overcome remote work challenges.

Focused Work. Studies and dens are spaces to help staff focus. Studies are quiet, subdued spaces boasting task lamps and dim environmental lighting. Worktables infused with technology and flanked with soundproofing create an environment free of distractions. The den is a relaxed version of the Study, with worktables replaced by coffee tables and seating replaced by oversized chairs. It’s suitable for casual focused work.

Collaboration Spaces. These flexible spaces are exclusive to the office. Incorporating touches of home help attract staff. A central, common area mimics a living room. Large, comfortable couches and lounge chairs, coffee tables, floor lamps, plants, and access to board games and books cue home comforts. Access to technology equipped for online shopping and services and a dedicated area for package delivery allows staff to check off their personal to-do list. Conference rooms such as the theater, playroom, and family room are technology-heavy with a large, central conference room table that converts to smaller tables and is supported with interactive tools such as smart boards. Libraries are a formal version of the Study with worktables, brighter lighting, and large displays conducive to internal meetings.

Social Spaces. The lobby/foyer, porch, game room, living room, and kitchen all serve as areas to encourage both spontaneous and planned social interactions. Underutilized lobby/foyer areas that incorporate den-like seating encourage staff to break from their desk, grab a cup of coffee, and review reports. The game room is an extension of the living room with arcade-style games, shuffleboard, and putting green, immune from meetings. The porch is an outdoor space with high-top tables covered by large umbrellas. Outdoor couches, rugs, pillows, and low tables with access to food and beverage create an entertaining space for guests and staff. The kitchen is the indoor porch for staff to gather and meet.

Wellness Spaces. Each space is designed for flexibility. The living room or porch can be rearranged for an afternoon yoga or fitness session. A Study can serve as a mother’s room, meditation area, or massage therapy room.
A space for your staff to call home is needed. The desk serves this purpose and can be accessorized with plants, photos, task lighting, and personal touches to make it more like home.

Redesigning your space and infusing elements of home results in a more productive, energized, and engaged workforce. From minor updates to a complete redesign, you and your staff will reap the benefits, positioning your company as an attractive place to call home.

Optimist Park/Belmont/NoDa

If you’ve traveled around the Optimist Park/Belmont/NoDa area, you’re sure to have seen Broadstone Craft, the Alexan Mill District, and Broadstone Optimist Park. All three projects foster the desirability of neighborhoods on the “outskirts” of NoDa. Located adjacent to Optimist Food Hall, and Birdsong Brewing, and have direct access to the Lynx Light Rail Station, making this growing area a place where people want to live, work, and play. Trammel Crow’s Alexan Mill District is the second phase of its counterpart, now called Alton Optimist Park. It is part of a larger transit-oriented development that includes an adjacent 130,000-square-foot office building and future communal outdoor spaces with pedestrian connectivity to Optimist Hall.

Broadstone Optimist Park – 2000 N. Brevard St

Quick Hit: 323-unit Alliance Residential development spanning 3 acres, and located across the 25^th Street light rail station (a block from our Chadbourn Mill adaptive re-use project)

Broadstone Craft – 1000 N. Davidson St.

Quick Hit: 297 units within a 7-story building that will wrap around Birdsong Brewing

Alexan Mill District – 100 N. Brevard St.

Quick Hit: Located directly next to Optimist Food Hall with 290 units located in one 5-story building and a 1,200 square-foot rooftop terrace overlooking Uptown

What’s next? Broadstone Optimist Park will open in early 2023, with Broadstone Craft delivering shortly after in Summer 2023. Alexan Mill District broke ground in March 2022 and is expected to deliver in late 2023 or early 2024.

South End

South End continues to grow, welcoming new multifamily, office, and retail to the burgeoning area. South End’s roots are grounded in industrial warehouses of the past. People enjoy the reimagined historic buildings when they are out to eat, having drinks, or working in their office spaces. A building’s history is what ties the past to our present, and it’s important to preserve a piece of Charlotte’s story while creating new ones. The Fairwood Avenue Event Space building and The Dowd are holding true to the original aesthetic that South End was first recognized for when they started making waves on the greater Charlotte map.

The Boulevard, A Broadstone Community – 2408 South Blvd.

Quick Hit: A 283-unit development with ground-floor retail is arriving in early 2024 with unique amenities such as outdoor fitness spaces and a resident speakeasy-style lounge – a nod to the neighborhood’s reputation as a food and craft brew destination and the project’s jazz age design inspiration.

Fairwood Avenue Event Space – 217 Fairwood Ave.

Quick Hit: Located across from the Fairwood 226, the project is an adaptive reuse project of two existing warehouses built in 1954 with the intended use of turning them into a future event and food hall destination.

The Dowd Building – 120 W. Bland St.

Quick Hit: The Dowd is another adaptive re-use development of an abandoned building originally built in 1912, with renovated space intended for creative office and/or retail.

What’s next? Expect to see new tenants signing onto the available retail and/or office spaces in an effort to bring new and exciting vendor concepts to the rapidly growing neighborhood.

Dilworth

Dilworth is a local historic district and was Charlotte’s first suburb, as well as the first suburb with streetcar transportation into the center city. The two buildings that makeup today’s artist hub, Dilworth Artisan Station, date back to 1909 and 1950 and were previously used as a mattress factory, furniture factory, textile mill, parachute production facility, and storage facility for soldiers’ cars during WWII. In an effort to salvage the building’s history, we’ve partnered with White Point Partners (think Bowers Fibers and Chadbourn Mill) in an effort to repurpose the decade-old building.

Dilworth Artisan Station – 118 E. Kingston Ave.

What’s next? Renovations are currently underway and are only planned on the ground floor of the 1909 building where an antique and restoration shop used to live. Expect a food and beverage tenant when complete, as well as enhanced landscaping and a better connection to the Charlotte Rail Trail. The building aesthetic will stay the same. Be on the lookout!

LoSo (Lower South End)

Apartment developments are flocking to Lower South End as it continues to boom alongside South End’s recent revitalization. Originally dubbed the warehouse and distribution district, its industrial and laid-back vibes are what attract people to the up-and-coming area.

LoSo Apartments – corner of Verbena and Gilead Streets

Quick Hit: Currently in construction and set to deliver in 2023, the apartment project includes 273 units on 5.7 acres and is a cross between urban- and garden-style apartments (gurban as we like to say here at Cline Design) with both elevator service and surface-level parking.

What’s next? With more and more apartment developments opening in LoSo, expect more foot traffic and pedestrian connectivity between breweries, workspaces, and residential areas as the district flourishes. 

University Place

University City is Charlotte’s 2^nd largest employment hub with 23 Fortune 500 companies, three headquarters, and roughly 73,000 employees, and has been lacking in affordable housing options. Prose mends this gap. Both developments will aid also in the needed connectivity within the area. Once Water’s Edge is completed, visitors will be able to access the one-mile walking path around the lake, and nearly 10 miles of greenway trails. Prose McCollough Station is directly across from the McCollough Station light-rail stop and is vital for those using greener options of transportation.

Novel University Place – 8862 J.W. Clay Blvd.

Quick Hit: Part of the larger Water’s Edge mixed-use development, Novel University Place has 311- units with the first units expected to deliver in early 2023. The development is dispersed across four buildings and three carriage buildings with garages. Amenities overlook a man-made lake on the property.

Prose McCollough Station – 8430 N. Tryon St.

Quick Hit: Prose McCollough Station is the first Prose brand in Charlotte under Alliance Residential that aims to create attainable housing within high employment hub areas.

What’s next? Novel University Place’s outdoor plaza has opportunities to be closed off to traffic for festivals and special events, so expect an entertainment line-up in the future.

Uptown

Laurel Street’s project helps in aiding the pledged five-year plan to reduce homelessness and housing insecurity within the city. With homelessness surrounding Uptown on an uptick, this development will help alleviate the issue. Varick on 7th was named in recognition of James Varick, the founder and first bishop of the AME Zion Church. Varick advocated for the abolition of slavery and helped establish the Freedom Journal, the first Black-owned newspaper in the United States.

Varick on 7^th Street – Intersection of 7^th and N. Alexander St.

Fun Fact: Varick on 7th was named in recognition of James Varick, the founder and first bishop of the AME Zion Church. Varick advocated for the abolition of slavery and helped establish the Freedom Journal, the first Black-owned newspaper in the United States.

Quick Hit: Located in Uptown’s Fourth Ward, 105 units are anticipated to open in 2023 with 50 apartments dedicated to those making below the average household income and 55 rented at market rate value.

What’s next? Varick on 7th Street will be completed in 2023 with development already underway.

Join us in welcoming our 2022 summer interns! We’re so excited to welcome these eight new faces this month, including one who is returning for their second consecutive year. Interns are such a valuable asset to our firm, and we can’t wait to see all they’ll accomplish.

We sat down to ask them their thoughts and expectations for the summer. Here’s what they had to say!

As we’re all too familiar with, the pandemic has had a significant influence on schedules and business operations. Cline Design’s Charlotte office would not be immune. Moving in January of 2021, they would, out of an abundance of caution, put off inviting their staff, clients, and partners to celebrate their new home. Fast forward to May of 2022, the team found themselves celebrating their space alongside their neighbors.

Thank you to everyone who helped Cline Design celebrate the official opening of their new Charlotte office, along with their neighbors at SeamonWhiteside and Park Commercial Real Estate in the burgeoning Lower South Neighborhood dubbed Peterson Corners.

Originally built in 1969, Peterson Corners occupies 20,000-square-feet of space split between two, one-story buildings. The buildings have housed a diverse group of tenants over its history including warehouse facilities, a distillery, and a fitness gym to name a few. Cline Design wanted to stay true to Lower South End’s “warehouse distribution district” feel and create a space that would embrace its history as well as accommodate its future.

“We felt like the neighborhood embodied Cline Design in a way. Lower South End is this up-and-coming urban district with a lot of growth. We have been experiencing a tremendous amount of growth, so much so that we grew too big for our previous Charlotte office. We wanted somewhere that was very walkable, and was surrounded by other unique spaces, such as the Bowers Fibers adaptive reuse building we designed across the street from Peterson Corners,” said President, Michael Mesnard.

Cline Design’s Charlotte office occupies the entire building of 220 E. Peterson Drive, while Park Commercial Real Estate and SeamonWhiteside occupy 230 W. Peterson Drive. Their home-away-from-home is conveniently located a block away from Brewers at 4001 Yancey, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Queen Park Social, and more.

Cline Design’s integrated services of architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture designed the details of their two-parcel micro-community of architects, engineers, and real estate brokers, which originally opened its doors in February 2021.

“We had a great time catching up with old and new faces at the party, and hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did. We could not think of a more perfect way to celebrate than with our neighbors who also share the same mutual contacts in the AEC industry. Our hope is that next time you visit us, the space will feel like home and you’ll be inclined to stay for a beer from our tap, play shuffleboard in our cafe, or relax out on our patio”, said Director of the Charlotte Office, Orlando Pizarro.

Before + After Photos of Peterson Corners

Cari Jones has been announced as the new Design Director and Managing Partner after fulfilling the role as the Director of Housing and Senior Principal for the last 11 years at Cline Design. In her new role, she will oversee the design direction and integrity of projects for the firm and operating in tandem with Michael Mesnard, who was recently announced the new President and Managing Partner for the firm in January of this year.

Jones has been a force to be reckoned with in Raleigh’s booming architecture industry since she joined what was then known as Cline Davis Architects immediately out of college in 1986. Since then, Jones has been an influencer in her industry, helping the firm secure a multitude of awards, including design recognitions for The Salvation Army’s Judy D. Zelnak Center of Hope in Raleigh, N.C., Berkshire Village District in Raleigh, N.C., The Residences at Renaissance funded through Hope VI in Charlotte, N.C., Van Alen in Durham, N.C., and Greenfield Commons and Greenfield Place in Durham, N.C.

“It has been an honor to work alongside Cari these last 20 plus years at Cline Design. Her influence and leadership has truly shaped the success and culture of our firm. Promoting her to Design Director and Managing Partner was the obvious next step for her career and our firm.”

Michael Mesnard, President and Managing Partner

With a passion for providing well-designed quality housing, Jones’ design philosophy is based on creating thoughtful and contextual communities for everyone. She is actively involved in promoting the presence of women in the AEC industry. Jones is a leader in the community as a committed Board Member for the Mosaic Development Group, a non-profit based out of Charlotte, with a mission of improving affordable housing across the state of North Carolina. In addition, she has held positions as a past Co-Chair for ULI Triangle Chapter’s Women Leadership Committee, a member of the City of Raleigh’s Appearance Commission, and a ULI Triangle Chapter Innovation Housing Council Committee member.

“I’m so excited for the opportunity to continue to develop design excellence at Cline Design and to further foster partnerships with clients who continue to provide us with great opportunities in North Carolina and elsewhere.”

Cari Jones, Director of Design and Managing Partner

Gary Cline, Founder, and namesake of the firm for the past 33 years, is transitioning to a new role as Chairman of the Board for Cline Design. His vision for the firm led to many key milestones and accolades through the years. His guidance coupled with his tenured leadership team positioned the firm to be a recipient of the AIA North Carolina Firm Award in 2019, an accomplishment that Gary reflects on fondly and contributes to the people of Cline Design. 

“Looking back, I couldn’t have envisioned the amount of success we would achieve over the last 30 years. We’ve weathered many storms including 2008 and we’ve bounced back stronger. Our projects have grown in complexity and size. We started in Raleigh and now we’re helping clients across the Southeast, even into the West coast. I’m incredibly proud of our leadership team, our talented staff, and their resilience to make Cline Design the design firm it is today,” reflected Cline. 

Under Gary’s leadership, the firm has made a significant impact on the communities they serve. Growing to two offices in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina, they have built a reputation of being an expert resource for their clients and peers. Notable projects over the years include Peace Raleigh Apartments and Publix, Hawk luxury apartments, Seaboard Station, Hazel SouthPark, Berkshire Village District apartments, Diamond View II office building, Peterson Corners, and Broadstone Queen City. 

While still a shareholder in the company, Cline will remain actively involved as he continues to foster client relationships, aid in the company’s sales growth, form strategic partnerships, and expand the project’s geographic territory. 

CLINE DESIGN’S NEW LEADER 

With Gary’s shift in focus comes a change at the very top of the firm, ushering Michael Mesnard into the leading rank as President and Managing Partner. “Michael has been alongside me at Cline Design for the last 24 years, and it only felt right that he would be the one to take the reins as I step back and shift into a business development-focused position. His tenacity, authenticity, and business acumen are what make him a great asset and I know he will take Cline Design to greater heights in the coming years,” said Cline. 

Mesnard has been an integral part of the firm’s evolvement and success since the 90’s when he joined in 1997 as a Project Manager. Soon making his way through the ranks, he was chosen to lead the direction of Cline Design’s Wilmington, North Carolina office in 2002. The 2008 housing crisis eventually forced the branch’s closure in 2009, signaling the shift back to Raleigh for Mesnard. Michael has since been the Director of Cline Design’s Raleigh office for the past 12 years, enhancing workflow by creating project-type specific internal teams, introducing BIM and CADD technology, and bringing the employee headcount to 100 + individuals.  

Throughout the years, he has been a valuable resource on notable projects, such as Kane Realty’s award-winning $150 million Smoky Hollow Phase I project- dubbed Peace Raleigh Apartments with a ground-floor Publix grocery store, PPD’s Wilmington headquarters, The Cardinal at North Hills a CCRC, and the 12-story residential tower for the revitalization of North Hills’ Main District.  

Michael noted, “It is an honor to step into the role of President for our growing firm. With Gary’s mentorship, guidance from our leadership team, and influence from every area of our firm, I’m excited to continue the success of Cline Design. We’re fortunate to have our legacy leaders still active with the firm, providing insight into our history so we may shape our future.” 

We are excited to share and celebrate with you the achievements of our staff across our Raleigh and Charlotte offices. This year twelve of our staff celebrate major milestones including 5, 10, 15, and 20-year anniversaries. Additionally, 8 have earned promotions ranging from Associate to Principal, for their hard work, contributions, and leadership. Two staff members were named employee of the year by their fellow CDA staffers. Please join us in congratulating all on their achievements in 2020.

Dan Rider, senior designer and integral member of the Peace Raleigh Apartment’s design team, gives insight into how the development’s scale, human experience, and modern industrial aesthetic contributed to the overall design of the mixed-use project.

With a mixed-use development as significant as Peace Raleigh Apartments, what were some of the challenges you faced when designing at such a large scale?  

Elliot Buff, Landscape Architect for Peace Raleigh Apartments, discusses the design opportunities presented by this transformative mixed-use project, and how it resulted in the final design of Peace’s courtyards and outdoor spaces.

Landscape Architects design with a vision of how others will experience spaces. What was the vision for the courtyards and outdoor spaces at Peace?

Cline Design sat down with Lee Starke, one of the lead Interior Designers for Peace Raleigh Apartments, to discuss the evolution of the interior design over the last five years. The development – which includes 417 units and 55,000-square-foot of retail anchored by Downtown Raleigh’s first Publix – represents revitalization in a once underutilized and deteriorating neighborhood on the edge of Downtown Raleigh. On September 2nd, 2020, the Publix occupying the ground floor of the development opened marking the official completion of Smokey Hollow’s Phase I.

Cline Design is pleased to announce the expansion and relocation of their Charlotte Office. They have partnered with Park Commercial Real Estate to redevelop Peterson Corners on Peterson Drive near Old Pineville Road in the resurging Lower South End (LoSo).

RALEIGH, NC (May 13, 2020) – Cline Design Associates is pleased to announce the promotion of Jim Compton, AIA to the firm’s Director of Interior Architecture and Design.

2019 was a busy year for us. We turned 30 years old and completed projects such as Golf Pride’s Corporate Headquarters, Solis Brightleaf, Draper Place, and Meeting Street Lofts. It was so busy that we had to hire more talented team members to help us continue building and designing award-winning projects for our amazing clients. This year alone, we hired 23 new employees across both our Raleigh and Charlotte offices. If we want to get into specifics, we hired the following to our constantly growing team : 2 Project Architects, 1 Project Designer, 1 Landscape Architect, 1 Interiors Senior Project Manager, 1 Senior Interior Designer, 1 Project Manager, 9 Designers, 2 Interior Designers, 1 Systems Administrator, 2 Design Interns and 2 Interior Design Interns.

Each December, our Principals and Associates vote on who’s hard work and dedication to the firm has earned them a new title of recognition within Cline. This December the following were nominated:

Bryan Johnson – Principal

Lindsey Kretchman – Associate Principal

Logan Luzader – Senior Associate

Martin Chavanne – Senior Associate

Allison Schaefer – Associate

Ana Cristina Acosta-Figg – Associate

Jill Davis – Associate

We would like to recognize those who have been with us through the years and have reached major milestones in their careers with us – spanning from the past thirty years to the past five years. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the firm. We appreciate all you have done to help us grow and transform Cline Design into what it is today.

Cari Jones – 30 Years

Janet Mountcastle – 20 Years

Sara Parker – 20 Years

Chris Tingler – 15 Years

Mark Ward – 10 Years

Jason Gable – 5 Years

Dan Rider, LEED AP BD+C, GGP shares his insights on the design of Academy Park and its influence on the Town of Cary

The Town of Cary is seeing unprecedented growth.  It’s consistently ranked as one of the best places to raise a family, retire and start a business.  With over 163,000 residents and long list of accolades, the Town of Cary continues to transform, keeping up with their diverse population.  One of those transformations is the Academy Park project.  In the heart of downtown Cary, this development is comprised of 102,000-square-feet of office, 34,000-square-feet of retail and 153 residential units wrapping three sides of a 600-space parking deck shared with the new Cary Regional Library, Cary Arts Center and Downtown Cary Park.

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August 1989 marked the beginning of Cline Design Associates, an adventure (and some may say risk) I took that has been so incredibly successful, beyond what I imagined in 1989. Reflecting back on the firm’s successes and setbacks, nostalgia sets in as these past thirty years have been some of the best and challenging yet. Starting out as a small firm of only twelve people and transforming into what it is today – over 90 employees with an additional office in Charlotte, North Carolina – I cannot help but express gratitude for the innovative and incredible talent we have, who continue to shape our firm, improve our culture, and nurture our core values.

Bryan Johnson, AIA talks about the rewards and challenges of serving as project manager for the first phase of the Peace Mixed-Use Development in Downtown Raleigh

If you travel anywhere near the North side of Downtown Raleigh, chances are you’ve seen the Peace development.  Standing twelve stories at its highest corner, the project boasts 417 apartment units with over 30 different unit plans across nine levels. There are 18,000-square-feet of amenities including an elevated pool and courtyard area with breathtaking views of downtown Raleigh, two parking structures, 55,000-square-feet of retail and the first grocery store in Downtown Raleigh. 

We sat down with Bryan Johnson, Associate Principal at Cline Design and Project Manager for Peace, and asked him what it’s like managing an over 900,000-gross-square-foot urban development that will serve as the new Northern Gateway for Downtown Raleigh.  Here’s what he had to share.

There is a long history of architects and designers breathing new life into vacant, neglected and underutilized buildings.  Adaptive reuse, the art of connecting the past with the future, is a practice that is rewarding for designers, clients, neighborhoods and communities alike.  It is a method that provides a new thriving project while still retaining much of the architectural character, history and memories of the existing structure.

The Pavilion at South End will undergo a complete renovation starting in early 2019 announced Friday on the Charlotte Business Journal. The 31,000 square-foot strip shopping center is located at 2041 South Blvd across from Atherton Mill in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood, and was built in the 1950’s.

Once the renovation is complete, tenants will consist of high-quality food and beverage establishments, as well as a brewery, beer garden or taphouse.

Cline Design Associates is the architect for the project.  (Read More)

Our Charlotte office keeps growing, and we’re excited to have Ali Pugliese join us as an Intern Architect. Originally from West Chester, Pennsylvania, she graduated from Penn State in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Architecture and a minor in Architectural History. While in college, she also co-founded a 3-D printing and design club called DigiDigits with a group of fellow Penn State architecture students to help children in need by creating more prosthetic-like training devices for children who have hand/arm malformations or disabilities.

While not working, she enjoys traveling (9 countries and counting),  cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles and Penn State Nittany Lions, and going to concerts. She recently made the move to North Carolina in November and is excited to begin her career with Cline Design Associates.

Inspire SouthPark , a 359-unit luxury apartment complex located in the SouthPark neighborhood of Charlotte, won a very high honor at the Charlotte Business Journal’s 2018 Heavy Hitters Commercial Real Estate Awards. Morgan Bond Companies was awarded “Top Apartment or Condominium Development” at the Westin in Uptown Charlotte for their Inspire SouthPark Apartment project. Director of Cline Design Associate’s Charlotte office, Orlando Pizarro, said, “This award is an honor and we’re proud to be a part of a team that worked so hard on this project. Being recognized for this achievement raises the expectations for our future projects in Charlotte and the surrounding areas.” This was the Charlotte Business Journal’s 5^th annual Heavy Hitters Awards and “turns a spotlight on the past year’s developments in the Charlotte region.”

Cline Design Associates provided architectural services, Samet Corporation was the general contractor, and Ellinwood Machado Structural Engineering, Design Resource Group, and Jordan and Skala Engineering were the engineers. (Read more)

The Boulevard apartments, formerly known as Third and Grand, has signed on Orange Theory Fitness as a tenant in its commercial space. The mixed-use project is on the corner of West Grand Boulevard and Third Avenue in Detroit, Michigan.

The development will include 231 apartments and 21,00 square feet of commercial space. Pre-leasing for studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units begins next month, and range from 900 to 1,150 square feet.

Cline Design is the architect for the project. (Read More)

The Hub South End, a mixed use project at the corner of Hawkins and Dunavant Street, has recently broken ground in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood on a 4.4 acre site. The development will include 265 apartments and more than 20,000 square feet of commercial space. The site will also include 29 two story townhouse style units. The project is expected to be finished in the spring of 2020.

Cline Design Associates is the architect on the project. (read more)

A new condominium complex is going up on the corner of Chatham Street and Urban Drive in downtown Cary, NC. Chatham Walk will offer three floor plans and includes a private balcony for each unit. Before construction begins, the site work includes moving the Williams House to a vacant lot on East Chatham Street across from Mid-Town Square.

Cline Design Associates is the architect. (Read more)

Meeting Street Lofts, located at 601 Meeting Street in Charleston, S.C. has signed on three new commercial tenants. Located at the base of the Ravenel Bridge on Charleston’s upper peninsula, Green and Grounds, Iron Tribe Fitness, and Nail So Dep have all together leased 7,296 square feet at the base of the apartments. About 9,250 square feet of commercial space remains available as of now. Cline Design Associates is the architect for this project. (read more)

Cline Design Associates has teamed up with Madison Capital Group for plans to build a 45-unit apartment on 901 River Road in Charlottesville, VA. Being built along the Rivanna River, the city is confident the apartments would be met with high demand from young professional working in the area. The apartment complex is expected to create higher traffic for the area, as opposed to the previous plans to build a storage unit on the property. (read more)

The Downtown Wilmington Riverfront will look quite a bit different once Flats on Front, a 300 unit apartment complex, is developed. The complex will cover 6-acres and consist of three separate buildings. It will also include a parking deck and surrounding surface parking. Flats on Front will be located at the corner of North Front Street and Cowan Street.

Cline Design is the architect (read more).

An upscale senior living community, called the Retreat at Coastal Grand, is coming to Myrtle Beach, S.C. With numerous amenities including a pickle ball court, bocce court, and nature trail, the apartment complex will be located at 381 Seaboard Street. Coastal Grand Mall sits across the street.

Renderings of the proposed property are by Cline Design Associates. (read more)

Blue Heron Asset Management’s project, Foster on the Park, a 164-unit apartment community overlooking Durham’s Central Park, has received a construction loan for its development. The space is expected to feature ground-floor retail and dining space and will be located at 545 Foster St., next to Durham’s Innovation District and Historic Durham Athletic Park.

Cline Design Associates is the architect for Foster on the Park. (read more)

Cline Design has partnered with White Point Partners to assist in the redevelopment of the Chadbourn Hoisery Mill, located at 451 Jordan Place in Charlotte’s “NoDa” district. The historic mill, originally built in the 1930s, will be turned into a 40,000 square foot office space, along with a 200-unit apartment building facing North Davidson St. adjacent to the site.

Originally expected be transformed into retail space, White Point Partners said the high demand for fast-growing companies seeking converted warehouse space along the light rail has risen, changing their mind.

Chadbourn Mill is one of eight projects currently underway along the Lynx Blue Line Extension. (read more)

Another apartment complex is coming to the outskirts of uptown Charlotte, on the corner of South Tryon and West Morehead streets. Broadstone Queen City will have 260 apartment units and is expected to deliver in the spring of 2020.

Broadstone Morehead LLC is associated with Alliance Residential and purchased the 1.9 acre property.

Cline Design is the architect for Broadstone Queen City. (read more)

Charlotte developer Crescent Communities has begun construction on yet another multifamily project in the Queen City.

Novel Research Park, at the intersection of West Mallard Creek Church Road and Senator Royall Drive in University, will include 280- units with one, two and three bedroom apartments. According to the developer, Crescent rezoned the 37.5 acre property in early 2017 to develop apartments as well as retail space and a 200-room hotel.

Cline Design Associates is the architect and Crescent Multifamily Construction is the general contractor. (read more)

Construction is officially underway for Broadstone Bryant Park, a multifamily community consisting of 345 units. This is Alliance Residential Co.’s first project in Charlotte, N.C. and will include studios, as well as one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Far from the normal amenities include a yoga studio, Wi-Fi co-working space, dry cleaning pickup, and a pet spa. The site is expected to finish in summer of 2019.

Cline Design Associates is the architect. (read more)

Steele Creek, one of Charlotte’s fastest growing neighborhoods, has a new apartment complex coming to the Berewick community. Solis Berewick Commons, located on Berewick Commons Parkway and Dixie River Road will include 230 apartment units, and is expected to finish construction in fall of 2019.

Charlotte’s multifamily firm, Terwilliger Pappas, is the developer on the project, and Carocon is the general contractor. Cline Design Associates is designing the interiors. (read more)

Laurel Street Residential announced a senior living development coming to Berewick in southwest Charlotte. With an expected delivery date of late spring 2019, Belvedere at Berewick will have 108 units and provide housing to adults 55 years and older. Rent will range from $1,000 to $1,500 per month and residents can choose from one- or two-bedroom units. The age restricted housing community is part of a 1,200-acre mixed use development site.

Cline Design is the architect of Belvedere at Berewick. (read more)

An office building was demolished Thursday to continue making room for Southpark’s newest apartments going up at 4401 Barclay Downs Drive in Charlotte, NC. Hazel Southpark will be a six-story luxury-style apartment complex featuring 203 units. The ground level will feature a 6,000 square foot restaurant, along with an 8,000 square foot boutique retail store.

Located adjacent to the Southpark Mall, the first phase of the project is expected to deliver in Q4 2019.

Cline Design Associates is the architect on the project. (read more)

A new grocery store in downtown Raleigh was confirmed Thursday as a Publix supermarket in the ground floor of an apartment tower on the corner of Peace and West streets.

The site is in an area that has been an unfocused spread of small stores, state offices and land that is beginning to take shape as a defined commercial and residential northern border of downtown. (read more)

A 275-unit apartment project in Steel Creek is now open and leasing.

Terwilliger Pappas opened its formal leasing center at 9550 Gannon Drive a drive weeks ago. Solis Berewick is the multifamily component of Berewick Town Center, part of a master-planned development by Pappas Properties. Ground broke last Septmember for Solis Berewick. (read more)

SunCap Property Group has broken ground on a new, boutique apartment community called Draper Place, bringing high-end apartments to Randolph Road.

The four-story building will include 47 units, both two and three bedroom apartments varying from 1,650 SF to 2,200 SF. The first apartments are expected to be available in late 2018. (read more)

Third and Grand’s groundbreaking officially took place in October, construction is starting to increase on the mixed-use project near the Fisher building. This six-story development will bring 231 new apartments to New Center in 2018. The project is the first of its kind in the area in 30 years.

The 356,000 square foot mixed-use development should open in summer 2018 with 21,000 square feet of commercial space.
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No sooner had the developers of the Solis Ninth Street apartment project in Durham finished and sold the building in mid-June than construction crews are being prepped for another major project less than a mile away.

Charlotte apartment development firm Terwilliger Pappas on Wednesday confirmed that construction has started on the 194-unit Solis Brightleaf apartment building at 1005 W. Main St. in downtown Durham. The project is next to the landmark Brightleaf Square dining and retail destination, formerly the site of the now-shuttered Howerton-Bryan Funeral Home. (read more)

A former Walmart near the Lynx Blue Line will soon be converted into creative office space.

Atlanta commercial real estate firm White Oak Real Estate Advisors acquired the big box structure at 801 E. Arrowood Road for $3.8 million in a sale that closed April 20, according to Mecklenburg County real estate records. White Oak, a firm new to the Charlotte market, plans to upfit the former retail store at the intersection of Arrowood and Old Pineville roads into a 110,390-square-foot, high-density office building. (read more)

When I toured Charlotte’s newest high-end apartments last fall, I didn’t see how the amenities could get much nicer: Waterfall hot tubs, massage rooms, dog washes and more marked a level of luxury I certainly didn’t get when I rented my first apartment a whole decade ago.

Turns out, there’s a whole level of apartment amenities even beyond those. Charlotte’s high-end apartments are turning to amenities with a higher level of service, even splashier rooftop pools and decks and exclusive features such as private bars to differentiate themselves.

“The level of amenities in some of these projects is over the top,” said Gary Cline, managing principal of Cline Design Associates. He was speaking at a Bisnow forum on apartment development, held Wednesday at the Duke Mansion. “That’s just normal.” (read more) 

The Wade, high end, five story condominium project is moving a step forward toward breaking ground. On the drawing board for close to two years, developers are telling potential buyers that the condos should be ready to move in by fall 2018.

Beacon Street Development has started site work and staging of this 27-unit building near Cameron Village and Fred Fletcher Park at 620 Wade Ave. (read more)

The former Carmike movie theater site on James Island plans for 132 apartments. Charleston’s Design Review Board listened to concerns from a half dozen residents and then gave plans for James Island Apartments conceptual approval. Representatives of the developer pointed out that the six-acre site on Central Park Road just west of Folly Road is zones for 153 units. (read more)

A number of development projects are planned or underway in Charlotte’s SouthPark, a submarket that’s undergoing renewed real estate activity.

Many of the projects are repositioning dated office buildings and aging apartment properties into denser, more urbanized mixed-use developments. The new investment and redevelopment in SouthPark has even spurred a collective group of landowners, residents and real estate professionals active in the submarket to plan out a cohesive vision and plan for SouthPark’s future.
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The Bowers Fibers building in lower South End of Charlotte, NC will be getting a face lift, as the space which was previously used for Bower’s Fibers operations for over 70 years, will be redeveloped for leasable retail and office space. The space includes 73,000 square feet and will pay homage to the building’s past by being called Bowers.

Near by are establishments such as Queen Park Social, Sugar Creek Brewing Co, and The Olde Mecklenberg Brewery.

Construction is aimed to begin in May and is expected to deliver in late 2017.

Cline Design Associates is the architect for the project. (read more)

Crescent Ninth Street
2016 Golden Lead Award  |  Large Development Award

2016 Golden Leaf Award Winners

Parkside Town Commons
2015 Real Estate Award | Top Retail Development

Clouds Brewing
2015 Real Estate Award | Top Restaurant Development

Crescent Cameron Village
2015 Real Estate Award | Top Multifamily Development

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/real-estate/2015/12/tbj-2016-space-awards-winners.html

Peter Cummings, the Detroit developer who brought Whole Foods to midtown and shepherded the deal for the Fisher Building, told Curbed that he plans to build a 230-unit midrise apartment building in New Center. This summer, rumors about Cummings’ plans to buy the parking lot at 3rd and Grand (pictured above) from Henry Ford Health System were met with a firm “no comment” from Cummings. Now, he says that there’s an agreement to purchase, and that architects have been selected for the project.
“The sale hasn’t happened yet,” Cummings explained, “But I do have a firm agreement with Henry Ford Helath system. I want to build 230 units,” Cummings added. Cummings has already tapped Chapel Hill, NC, Cline Design for the new development which will combine retail with residential units just steps away from the Fisher Building. “They did a great job for me on a similar scale project, housing over parking and retail in Chapel Hill,” Cummings said.

Cummings says there’s a timeline in place and that the sale should be finalized soon. “We would like to launch the project in summer 2016,” Cummings said.Cline Design built 140 West Franklin for Cummings’ former Florida venture, Ram Real Estate. The eight-story, $55 million, mixed-use building in Chapel Hill opened in 2013 after nearly a decade of work.

Trifecta: Crescent sells third Triangle luxury apartment complex, grosses $208M total
. The developer and owner of the new Crescent Main Street luxury apartment complex in Durham, Crescent Communities of Charlotte, has sold its third new property in the Triangle at another near-record-breaking price.
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@DHICInc received tax credits for Greenfield Place in Chapel Hill @chapelhillgov and Pennington Grove in Garner @TownofGarner.

Myers Park Place in Charlotte. Drone view under construction video.

The Cardinal at North Hills has broken ground! Located in the vibrant North Hills Midtown District, this new full continuum senior living community will be steps away from a variety of restaurants, shopping and entertainment options. Go out or stay in – your home at the Cardinal will offer not only spacious, beautifully appointed residences but a warm, inviting community to share with family and friends, discover new passions and create The Art of Living Well on your terms.
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An apartment complex just off Park Road and Woodlawn Road is set to be demolished and replaced with a new, upscale complex, according to rezoning plans filed with the city.
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