By carefully integrating the buildings and retaining walls into the existing topography, the design preserved trees and site character while still meeting all program and code requirements. The thoughtful handling of grade and tree preservation allowed The Nolen to feel like a natural, long-standing part of the community rather than an imposed addition. The project ultimately delivered a seamless connection between the built environment and its established neighborhood context, all while maintaining proximity to nearby schools, retail, and the greenway.
Charlotte, NC
Hopper – The Nolen
27 Luxury Townhomes
Services Land Planning, Civil Engineering
2021 Completed
Barclay Downs Charlotte, NC
Hopper Communities
Project Story
The Nolen project benefited from a highly desirable location, offering proximity to schools, restaurants, shopping, and a nearby greenway. The Nolen's primary constraint was significant topography, which required a custom approach to integrating the building program with ordinance requirements and tree preservation areas. The result was a development that reads as a natural extension of the surrounding community.
The Challenge
The Nolen's significant topography made it difficult to balance the owner's program requirements, applicable ordinance standards, and tree preservation areas within the same design. Fitting buildings into the existing grade while still meeting building code required a highly customized design approach. Retaining walls needed to be carefully threaded through the development without impacting existing footings, tree save areas, or other site elements.
DRG’s Role
DRG worked diligently alongside the project architect to tuck the buildings into the site's natural grade while still satisfying building code and the owner's programmatic needs. The firm also collaborated closely with the wall designers to integrate retaining walls into the development without compromising footings, tree save areas, or other sensitive site elements. This close, multi-disciplinary coordination was essential to reconciling The Nolen's steep topography with its design and preservation requirements.