Renderings by Perkins+Will.

Tompkins Hall, the incredible mixed-use project underway in Optimist Park, has signed on Duke Energy as its first anchor tenant.

The company will lease 83,000 square feet, making it the primary office tenant in a project that will also have an array of food and retail. Picture Tompkins Hall as Charlotte’s version of New York City’s Chelsea Market or Atlanta’s Krog Street Market.


Duke Energy is expected to start moving employees in during the second quarter of 2018. About 400 total employees will work there full-time, with 100 or more rotating through. They’ll mostly be doing consumer products, Duke spokesman Neil Nissan said.

This is a huge boost for the project as Duke is not only a draw of a name, but I can foresee them donating some really cool art and visual components for the project.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Duke Energy as our lead office tenant at Tompkins Hall,” said Merritt Lancaster, principal of developer Paces Properties. “Duke’s rich history, commitment to sustainability and preservation, and continued focus on new technology mirrors our efforts to save this historic mill and have it once again be a positive economic and cultural impact in Charlotte.”

“Duke Energy’s forward-thinking vision matched our intent to create a center of collaboration and innovation at Tompkins Hall,” said Jay Levell of co-developer White Point Partners. “To have the largest energy company in the U.S., with deep roots in Charlotte, anchor the project means that, 125 years after helping launch Charlotte’s textile boom, Duke will continue the tradition of innovation at Tompkins Hall. We are excited to have them as future office tenants.”

Tompkins Hall is right on the Parkwood Station light rail stop on the soon-to-open Blue Line Extension.

The design of the office space will be unlike anything in any of Duke’s buildings. They don’t have any space that will encourage the constant collaboration like this space in Tompkins Hall will, the company says.

The project is from White Point Partners and Paces.