Charlotte Happenings is your monthly guide to events and things to do in and around Charlotte, NC.
Issue link: http://charlottehappenings.epubxp.com/i/827394
One of the newer entrants onto Charlotte's high-rise scene, Duke Energy Center is also one of the most architecturally intriguing. A sharp, angular rise 48 floors above South Tryon Street, the building has a granite base and blue-green glass topped with a handle-like feature that bears resemblance to the Shanghai World Financial Center. The center's sophisticated exterior nighttime light scheme fascinates Charlotteans with its colorful variations, which align with city happenings (follow @WFLightsCLT on Twitter for information on the building's light shows). The building was to be the headquarters for Wachovia Corp. when originally constructed, but the name shifted to the lead tenant, Duke Energy, after the former bank's acquisition by Wells Fargo & Co. Charlotte's 1975 city directory listed Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and Charlotte Mutual Insurance as former occupants of the space. One of the anchor buildings at the Levine Plaza for the Arts, Duke Energy Center offers visitors easy access to the Knight Theater, Mint Museum Uptown, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African- American Arts + Culture. Diners can feast on inventive fare at Levant Mediterranean Cuisine, Asian-fusion delicacies at EMZY Sushi Bar and Asian Kitchen and modern-American dishes at Halcyon, Flavors from the Earth. Energy Café, located along the building's colonnade, is a quick- casual stop for healthy snacks, meals and beverages. Bonus: The Duke Energy Center offers free public Wi-Fi on the 500 Block Plaza in front of the Mint Museum. Located on the roof of the Podium and accessible via the 10th floor is a gorgeous rooftop garden, the Green Roof, which is open during business hours for Wells Fargo employees and can be booked for after-hours events for all Duke Energy Center tenants. 550 S. Tryon St. D U K E E N E R G Y C E N T E R 1 JUNE 2017 67