Progressive Companies Takes a Bold Step Forward: New Charlotte Office Location at Camp North End

In June, the firm announced a strategic expansion of our Charlotte office, focusing on growing expertise and staffing in key areas like engineering, education, health and wellness, and science and industry. Add to that the strategic hiring of key staff in Charlotte, a new President and CEO, Director of Design, Urban Design Practice Leader, and expansion into the Sports and Entertainment market, and it’s clear Progressive Companies is poised for an exciting time of growth and investment in the Carolinas!

Our recent move to Camp North End is the result of an intentional design process focused on collaboration, flexibility, inclusivity, and sustainability. Indeed, we took the opportunity to "practice what we preach," and used our own performance-based design approach to ensure the best possible outcome for our team. From the start, we knew our goal was to create a space that not only reflects our culture but also adapts to the diverse needs of our people.

The Process: Listening to Our People

Design leads Suzie Froedge and Denny Gappens took insights from an office-wide survey and worked with leadership to identify and refine the team's needs. To ensure the design was shaped by the voices of everyone in the office, each staff member was encouraged to participate in one of seven subcommittees focused on important office components such as:

• Technology

• Materials Library

• Social spaces

• “Me” spaces  

• “We” spaces

• Mezzanine utilization

• Branding and graphics

The project team also set up anonymous feedback boards where staff could record what they did/didn’t like about current office conditions and aspirations they had for the future office. Combined, these processes allowed us to gather invaluable feedback and align our design with the real, day-to-day needs of the team.

Design Principles: Functionality Meets Aesthetic

From the feedback gathered, the team established four guiding design principles that would inform every decision:

1) Prioritize technology solutions that are fully integrated, intuitive, easy to use, and that enhance productivity and collaboration for employees.

2) Create a variety of strategic spaces that foster multiple ways of creative work spanning between heads down to highly collaborative while accommodating intentional areas for work display & pin-ups.

3) In line with firm ethos, the space will incorporate sustainable principles and support the health and wellness of employees with ergonomic furniture, abundant natural light, access to outdoor work space, and acoustic considerations.

4) Curate an impactful experience that is a visual celebration of our brand, our creative culture, and resonates with guests and talent within it.

The team's design philosophy was rooted in a deep respect for the space’s historic structure. The building, an old WWII era factory, has a rich, textured character—exposed brick walls, patinaed wood columns and trusses, and a soaring high roof—elements that we wanted to maintain. Instead of hiding these features behind layers of drywall, paint, or dropped ceilings, the design celebrates them. The idea was to create a juxtaposition of old and new, where sleek, modern design elements contrast with the rough, raw textures of the building’s original architecture. This approach tells a story about being able to respect the past while embracing the future.

Sustainability and Inclusive Design

Sustainability was a critical consideration from the start. We’re pursuing LEED certification, which aligns with our commitment to environmentally responsible design. The campus is already Fitwel-certified, and we incorporated sustainable practices like composting, LEED-approved finishes, and eliminating trash bins at desks—everything is compostable or reusable. Our commitment to preserving the existing conditions and finishes of the space also resulted in a large reduction of construction materials/waste.

Our design also prioritizes Universal Design principles. We’ve rounded corners on furniture, added adjustable height desks for all staff, used high-contrast flooring for better visibility, eliminated transitions between spaces to improve flow, and provided a multitude of different ways/places for people to work. Our goal is to create an environment that is flexible, equitable, and intuitive for everyone.

Reflecting a Culture of Creativity and Connection

From a cultural standpoint, the Charlotte office’s Thursday socials in the break room have long been a beloved tradition. We wanted to enhance this aspect of our culture in the new space. The work café has become the heart of our office, offering multiple environments for social interaction. Whether it’s a family-style table for open collaboration or private booths for focused work, the café provides versatile settings for various work styles.

In addition to the work café, we created areas for quiet, individual work, such as the mezzanine which includes desks, lounges, huddle space, and a large library table for focused activities. The aim was to accommodate the many ways our team works—whether it’s at a desk, in a meeting room, or in a social space.

Camp North End is known for its creative energy and eclectic vibe. Surrounded by design agencies, tattoo shops, record stores, and other artistic spaces, we wanted our office to resonate with this energy. We sought to incorporate local art into the space, with murals that reflect our urban environment and diverse practice. Local artist Esther Moorehead, whose work Denny discovered at a local coffee shop, has created two murals that capture both the essence of Charlotte and the energy of urban streetscapes.

Further integrating our brand into the space, we also used our taglines, logo, and project photography in creative ways throughout the office—incorporating them into wall designs and signage.

Upgrading our Technology

Our new office reflects the latest advancements in technology. The old office, dating back to the early 2000’s, didn’t always have the most reliable tech, but the new design ensures that everything works seamlessly. We’ve equipped conference rooms with smart boards, and made portable monitors and docking stations available for use. The office has its own Wi-Fi network, in addition to the campus-wide network, so employees can work from anywhere within Camp North End. With covered patios on both sides of the office, employees can step outside to work, relax, or collaborate.

Fostering Growth and Impact

The design of this office isn’t just about creating a comfortable space to work. It’s about creating a space that fosters the growth of our team and that we're proud to show off to our clients and partners. As we strive for excellence in our design work, we want the office to reflect that same level of commitment.  

As is our promise to our own clients, we will validate the space’s effectiveness after a few months through an employee survey that mirrors one issued for the old office. This will allow us to assess how well the design is meeting our needs, measure the amount of improvement, and make any necessary tweaks.

Most of all, we’re thrilled to see the excitement from our team. The reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re eager to see how this new space enhances our culture, productivity, and overall experience.

Our New Address

We’re proud to call Camp North End our home. This 75-acre campus, which will eventually span over 3 million square feet, is undergoing a 25-year buildout. We’re excited to be part of the early stages of this transformation, watching the area evolve into its own miniature city.

Our new office is located at:

1801 N. Graham Street, Suite 200

Charlotte, NC 28206

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