The AC Hotel and Residence Inn Charlotte City Center officially opened, with McKibbon Hospitality picking up management of the property. The 22-story, dual-branded hotel tower adds 300 rooms to Uptown Charlotte and includes amenities such as the AC Lounge, modern meeting space, a fitness center and a collection of artwork by more than 20 local artists.
McKibbon Hospitality partnered with Charlotte-based Vision Ventures on the development, and Cleveland Construction served as the general contractor. The project brings the first AC Hotel to Charlotte and also includes an independent rooftop bar and lounge—Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo—and an adjacent penthouse suite for rent—Suite TwentyTwo—both of which will open toward the end of September.
“The completion of the AC Hotel and Residence Inn Charlotte City Center is a great accomplishment for McKibbon and all of our partners who worked to make the vision for this exciting project a reality,” John McKibbon, chairman of McKibbon Hospitality, said in a statement. “Together, we have created something really special for visitors and locals to enjoy—two great hotel brands in a single site, an outstanding culinary offering, a beautiful collection of local artwork, great onsite amenities and stunning city views.”
The AC Hotel Charlotte City Center offers 184 rooms on levels 5-12 of the tower, including some with outdoor terraces overlooking Uptown Charlotte. It also includes 2,400 square feet of meeting space and additional outdoor space available for use on the fifth floor. The AC Lounge is open to the public and offers a Mediterranean-inspired menu with daily breakfast and evening small plates, craft cocktails, beer and wine. The Residence Inn Charlotte City Center offers apartment-style accommodations on levels 14-21 of the tower with 116 rooms, a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom suites that include full kitchens.
“Turning what was an unfinished project into the stunning Charlotte City Center Tower that has forever changed the skyline of Uptown Charlotte is a dream come true for our team," Paul Picarazzi, principal at Vision Ventures, said in a statement. "It was an extremely complex project, and I’m proud to say that everything from the building design, the interior spaces, the local artwork, the service and the location make this property second to none in Uptown.”
The project’s art collection was personally selected by McKibbon and Picarazzi, who worked with Asheville-based art consultant Liz L. Barr, principal of Art Resources, to select the local artists. The collection is spread throughout the hotels’ public spaces and guestrooms and includes paintings, sculpture, hand-blown glass, and 3-D art on canvas. Some of the more than 20 local artists include internationally-acclaimed mixed-media artist Stephen Wilson; 3-D canvas artist Paul Rousso; mixed-media artist Lori Love; oil painter and landscape artist Paul Hastings; and thirteen-year-old glass artist, Elijah Kell.
McKibbon and Picarazzi also collaborated on the tower’s rooftop bar and lounge concept, Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo, with consulting from Chef Peter Pollay of Mandara Hospitality Group in Asheville. Once open, Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo will offer locally and regionally inspired small plates, handcrafted cocktails, beer and wine, local art and city views. Also opening in mid-September, the adjacent penthouse suite, Suite TwentyTwo, will offer two bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and entertainment space.