Amid the post-pandemic economic boom, Baskervill seized the opportunity to expand our operations to better serve our wide-spread clientbase. This expansion is part of a broader footprint that includes offices in Richmond, Orlando, Washington DC, Denver, and Gdańsk, Poland – all driven by a shared commitment to designing spaces that empower ideas and connect people. Establishing a Charlotte presence was a natural move, capitalizing on the city’s quickly-evolving economy and pivotal location in the region. The city’s robust infrastructure, diverse talent pool, and business-friendly environment drove an exciting first year full of meaningful work by the growing Queen City team.
The office’s operations are led by Managing Director Hannah Markham, CID, NCIDQ, LEED GA with support from Tim Smith, AIA, a Studio Director in Baskervill’s Education studio, who have both been instrumental in fostering a local culture of excellence and innovation. Their hands-on approach to leadership has transformed Baskervill’s Charlotte office into a local presence of design innovation.
“One of our major strategic goals for the new office was to leverage the thriving Charlotte market to create exceptional hospitality experiences,” says Hannah, a leader in the Hospitality studio as well as the office’s Managing Director. “The Charlotte office allows Baskervill to be at the forefront of innovative design, directly engaging with clients to deliver personalized, cutting-edge hotel solutions.”
Led by Hannah, the hospitality team in Charlotte has been hard at work with projects like the recently completed Beaches Negril Firefly Reserve Villas & Eventide Penthouse collection. Inspired by Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach, the design embodies the island’s legion of natural wonders. Indigenous materials, organic shapes, imperfect wood, and the fluid forms of water combine, creating a layered, tactile experience that allows guests to connect deeply to the rooted history of Negril.
“Establishing the Charlotte office has strategically and physically positioned Baskervill to be closer to our existing clients while pursuing new and exciting projects in the thriving Southeast sector,” says Tim. “In the last year, the firm has been able to connect with our client base of higher education institutions like never before. The city’s vibrant business environment has enabled us to better serve our clients’ needs and seize new opportunities for growth.”
This past year has proven equally productive for Tim as he works to expand our education practice in the Carolinas. On top of building relationships with local institutions, he has been diligently working on projects for our term-contracted institutions, including the University of Virginia, College of William & Mary, and Virginia Military Institute. In addition to these collaborations, Tim is spearheading an exciting new project for Virginia State University: a state-of-the-art admissions building. Designed to serve as the all-important first impression for prospective students, the currently-in-design building will extend the campus’s welcoming spirit and set the tone for their academic journey.
Baskervill knows the difference a year can make — we’ve been through 127 of them, after all! As we continue to grow our presence in Charlotte and beyond, we invite anyone seeking transformative design solutions to connect with our team and discover how Baskervill can help bring your inspiring and effective built spaces to life. Let’s talk.