Lowe's Global Technology Center

Lowes will be investing $153 million into the building as a tech hub for 2,000 employees. 400 jobs will be transferred from the company's headquarters in Mooresville, the remaining 1,600 employees will be new hires. The state has offered Lowes $54.1 million of incentives for the development of 1,600 new jobs. The state also be awarding Lowe's a $2 million grant from its North Carolina One Fund.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/06/27/renderings-lowes-selects-charlotte-for-massive.html |title=RENDERINGS: Lowe's selects Charlotte for massive tech hub, will kick off new South End tower |first1=Ken| last1=Elkins |first2=Ashley| last2=Fahey |work=Charlotte Business Journal |date=27 June 2019 |access-date=19 March 2021}} Lowe's also considered Dallas for the expansion. Ultimately Charlotte was chosen owing to its proximity to the company's headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina and the appeal of South End to the millennial population. The generation enjoys living in denser urban areas with access to the light rail, scooters, and an area that is easily walkable.

Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison views expanding IT as a way to become a better retailer. He believes one of the characteristics of a greater retailer is having a great technology platform. He went on to explain that this project modernizes Lowe's technology systems and drives company growth.

Lowe's has already been hiring for the 1,600 new positions. Prior to the pandemic, these positions were being housing at {{convert|200,000|sqft|m2|0}} of leased space in Charlotte Plaza in Uptown Charlotte, IT employees began moving into this space in June 2019. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Charlotte Business Journal reported that Lowe's has listed 125,000 square of this space for sublease. The remaining {{convert|75,000|sqft|m2|0}} of space will be available for remote employees. Lowe's Charlotte Plaza leases are effective until July 2024.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2020/11/24/lowes-uptown-office-space-sublease.html|title=Lowe's puts much of its uptown office space on the market for sublease.|first1=Ashley|last1=Fahey|work=Charlotte Business Journal|date=20 November 2020|access-date=20 March 2021}} Lowe's recently stated their target move-in is the summer of 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/05/19/lowes-global-technology-center-south-end-tech-jobs.html |title=Lowe's targets summer opening for global tech hub in Charlotte's South End |first1=Jennifer| last1=Thomas|work=Charlotte Business Journal |date=19 May 2022 |access-date=19 May 2022}}

The hiring numbers for the 1,600 new positions stands at 1,200 employees.

In November 2021 the building was sold to New York-based Apollo Global Management for $318 million. This sale set a record for the highest price per square foot at {{Convert|889|$/sqft|abbr=on|$=$}}. The prior record was set in 2020 for {{Convert|612|$/sqft|$/m2|$=$}} for the sale of the RailYard in South End. The sale price was $201 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/11/24/lowes-tower-sale-breaks-clt-record.html |title=Lowe's tower in South End sells for record price per square foot |first1=Liz| last1=O'Connell|work=Charlotte Business Journal |date=24 November 2021 |access-date=16 September 2022}}

Lowe's officially began to occupy the building in August 2022 with 1,000 employees initially working in the building. The hiring process for the 2,000 employees is ongoing as of August 2022. Lowe's has not set a date for when all 2,000 employees will occupy the building.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/08/17/lowes-global-technology-center-open-south-end.html |title=Mooresville-based Lowe’s opens Charlotte tech hub in South End |first1=Jennifer| last1=Thomas|work=Charlotte Business Journal |date=17 August 2022 |access-date=15 September 2022}}

The design of the office space was intended to encourage collaboration. Some of the specific elements that encourage collaboration are pods featuring sit/stand desks, tables for team huddles, and plenty of whiteboards. The large number of windows on each floor flood the space with natural light and provide inspiring skyline views of Uptown. The building has an innovation lab that provides in-house team focus on emerging technologies that allow for demos of new ways to transform how people work, live, and shop at Lowe's. The two-level auditorium with 168 can be used to host town and tech talks. Other employee amenities include social spaces, cafes, four quiet rooms, and two massage chairs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/10/19/lowes-tech-hub-technology-talent-retail.html|work=Charlotte Business Journal|title=How Lowe's Tech Hub will boost home-improvement retailer's omnichannel efforts|last1=Thomas|first1=Jennifer|access-date=19 October 2022|date=21 October 2022}}

Many different tenants occupy the {{convert|20,000|sqft|m2|0}} of ground floor retail. The most notable ground floor retail tenant is Salted Melon Market & Eatery, a health-focused market and fast-casual restaurant created by Reid's Fine Foods. The market will occupy {{convert|7,000|sqft|m2|0}} of space. It will contain grab and go readymade food, a full-service espresso bar, and a broth bar.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/06/03/reids-fine-foods-south-end-salted-melon-market.html |title=Reid’s Fine Foods owners talk new South End venture, Salted Melon Market & Eatery |first1=Jennifer| last1=Thomas|work=Charlotte Business Journal |date=3 June 2022 |access-date=28 September 2022}} The other ground floor retail tenants are Brown Bag Seafood Co., a fast-casual seafood chain{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/12/01/brown-bag-seafood-co-snags-south-end-uptown-spaces.html |title=Brown Bag Seafood Co. snags spaces in South End, uptown |first1=Jennifer| last1=Thomas|work=Charlotte Business Journal |date=1 December 2021 |access-date=28 September 2022}} and Allbirds, a sustainability focused shoe company, occupying {{convert|2,964|sqft|m2|0}}.{{cite news|url=https://us.fashionnetwork.com/news/Allbirds-opens-first-store-in-charlotte,1374669.html |title=Allbirds opens first store in Charlotte |first1=Jennifer| last1=Braun|work=Fashion Network |date=3 February 2022 |access-date=28 September 2022}}

In September 2022 retailer Outdoor Voices began leasing {{convert|1,429|sqft|m2|0}} of ground floor retail. Outdoor Voices is an athletic apparel store selling items such as sweatpants, leggings, and men's activewear. It is a competitor to other chains with locations in South End such as Lululemon, Anthropologie, Warby Parker, Cava, Barry's and Free People.{{Cite news|url=https://charlotte.axios.com/278568/outdoor-voices-is-opening-in-south-end/|work=Axios Charlotte|title=Outdoor Voices is now open in South End Outdoor Voices is now open in South End

|last1=Crane|first1=Brianna|last2=Peralta Soloff|first2=Katie|access-date=11 October 2022|date=6 October 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/whats-in-store/article266895436.html|work=Charlotte Observer|title=Sportswear company makes NC debut blocks away from competitor Lululemon in South End|last1=Muccigrosso|first1=Catherine|access-date=11 October 2022|date=7 October 2022}}

In December 2022 Brown Bag Seafood Company opened a {{convert|2,542|sqft|m2|0}} ground floor retail location in the building. The restaurant is a fast and casual seafood chain based in Chicago, in August 2022 the company opened its first location in the Charlotte region with a restaurant in Birkdale Village in Huntersville. The restaurant allows customers to choose their seafood and how they want the meal presented with choices like tacos, salads, sandwiches, and a grain or vegetable bowl.{{Cite news|url=https://www.brownbagseafood.com/locations/|work=Brown Bag Seafood Company|title=Locations|access-date=5 December 2022}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.corneliustoday.com/brown-bag-seafood-co-opens-at-birkdale-village-on-monday/|work=Cornelius Today|title=Brown Bag Seafood Co. opens at Birkdale Village on Monday|access-date=5 December 2022|date=26 August 2022}}

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