First in Flight
- Project type
- Industrial and Office
- Size
- 54,400 SF
Overview
Industrial Elegance with Strategic Design
This new industrial facility in Charlotte, NC, exemplifies refined functionality with a bold architectural presence. Designed by Ossa Studio, the project merges utility and contemporary aesthetics through a clean, monolithic façade animated by vertical color accents. The contrast of materials and textures brings rhythm to the expansive volume, while a dynamic entrance canopy establishes a clear focal point and welcoming threshold for visitors.
The elongated layout responds to the site's logistical needs, optimizing circulation for both employees and large transport vehicles. Carefully placed vertical openings allow natural light into key areas while breaking the massing visually. The surrounding landscape, parking areas, and walkways were designed to support daily operations and create a more human-scale environment without compromising the structure’s industrial purpose.
- Service
- Architecture
- Client
- Private company
- Role
- Architecture and engineering coordination, from concept design to construction documents
Photos
Project Details
Industrial and Office Building Program in Charlotte
First in Flight is a new one-story building for Aviation Metals on a 7.3-acre undeveloped site in Charlotte. The program is a warehouse for high-piled storage of about 120 by 400 feet, with an office area of about 80 by 80 feet at the front. Together they total about 54,400 SF. The structure is planned as tilt-up concrete panels with steel joists.
Facade, Entrance Canopy and Site Layout
The long warehouse volume is kept as a clean, light-toned metal and concrete mass, broken by vertical color accents in orange and blue. The office wing at the front has a glazed entry under a dark canopy that marks the main entrance. On the site, the building runs parallel to the front parking, while truck loading and a gravel fire lane are kept on the working side.
Rezoning, Concept Design and Architecture Services in Charlotte
The site was rezoned from N1-A to ML-1 (CD), which allows up to 70,000 SF, one principal building and a height of 45 feet. Ossa Studio worked on concept site plans, rezoning plans, conceptual office plans, renderings and the exterior concept design, and the scope covers pre-design, schematic design, design development and construction documents with structural engineering by Bennett & Pless. The work with Aviation Metals later continued as the Aviation Metals project. Learn more about our architecture services in Charlotte.
Project Facts
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
- Project type
- New one-story industrial building with an office area
- Size
- About 54,400 SF: 48,000 SF warehouse and 6,400 SF office
- Key feature
- Tilt-up concrete panels with an entrance canopy and vertical color accents
- Scope
- Concept design, rezoning site plans and building design
At a glance
- Architecture
- Ossa Studio
- Structural engineering
- Bennett & Pless
- MEP and fire protection engineering
- Engitecture
