Bank of America Corporate Center

Bank of America Corporate Center
Company type	Headquarters building
Industry	Banking
Predecessor	NCNB Corporate Center (planned name)
Founded	July 1992; 34 years ago
Founder	César Pelli, HKS Architects
Headquarters	Charlotte, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Hugh McColl (former CEO, led development)
Products	Office space for Bank of America and tenants
Owner	Bank of America
Parent	Bank of America

The Bank of America Corporate Center stands as an 871 ft (265 m) skyscraper located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. Conceived by Argentine architect César Pelli alongside HKS Architects, this building functions as the main headquarters for Bank of America. Since its completion in 1992, it has held the distinction of being the tallest structure in North Carolina, ranking as the 51st-highest in the United States and 174th globally.

Locally referred to as the "Taj McColl" in honor of former CEO Hugh McColl, who led its development, the tower can be seen from distances reaching up to on days with clear visibility.

Ben Long Frescoes

Inside the Corporate Center's lobby, visitors encounter three expansive secular frescoes, each spanning , crafted by North Carolina artist Ben Long with assistance from nine collaborators. Finished over four months in 1992, these frescoes collectively form a triptych influenced by Shingon traditions.

The first panel, titled Making/Building, illustrates the tower’s construction process, featuring workers wielding golden shovels. The second piece, Chaos/Creativity, presents a varied assembly of figures beneath rotating nude forms. The final panel, Planning/Knowledge, depicts a young boy encircled by geometric patterns alongside individuals engaged in conversation and dance.

Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

Situated next to the Corporate Center on East 5th Street, the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center comprises three venues: Belk Theater, Booth Playhouse, and Stage Door Theater.

Founders Hall

Founders Hall adjoins the Corporate Center and contains a spacious vaulted atrium adorned with red-brown marble flooring and a water fountain. This space is bordered by two levels hosting retail shops and dining establishments that contribute to the Overstreet Mall. Skybridges connect Founders Hall to neighboring buildings including Bank of America Center, One South at The Plaza, and Truist Center.

Announcement

On December 10, 1986, North Carolina National Bank revealed plans for what would become the Corporate Center. In partnership with Charter Properties, the initial proposal featured a 50-story office tower, a 350-room hotel, and provisions for the future North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The Charlotte-based firm Odell Associates designed a circular tower topped by a flat Greek cross as a tribute to the Trade and Tryon intersection.

Construction necessitated clearing an entire city block bounded by North Tryon, East Trade, North College, and East 5th Streets. This demolition included historic department stores such as Belk (established 1908) and Efird's (established 1922).

Design competition

On July 20, 1987, Lincoln Property was appointed as a general partner by NCNB. The architectural selection process commenced in August 1987 with submissions from firms including:

I.M. Pei (New York City)
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (Chicago)
Cesar Pelli & Associates (New Haven)
HKS Architects (Dallas)
John Burgee Architects (New York City)
WZMH Group (Dallas)
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (New York City)

On September 25, 1987, NCNB Chairman Hugh McColl announced that Cesar Pelli’s design had been selected. The tower was initially planned to rise between 55 and 60 stories, clad in granite and designated as the NCNB Corporate Center.

The completed design was presented on June 14, 1988: a 60-story building featuring a 30ft granite base along North Tryon Street with a facade combining rosy beige granite and silver glass. The structure narrows through six setbacks positioned at floors 13, 44, and corner setbacks at floors 53; along with face setbacks at floors 47, 56, and 60; culminating in an 871ft crown above Tryon Street.

Construction

Demolition commenced on January 3, 1989, and lasted over seven months before excavation work began. During the foundation digging process, contractors discovered gold flakes embedded in the granite, a nod to Charlotte’s legacy as the site of America’s initial gold rush during the 1830s.

Construction officially started with the first concrete pour on November 19, 1989. The mat foundation consists of a substantial slab containing 3,500 cubic yards of concrete and 150 tons of reinforcing steel, reaching 38 feet beneath Tryon Street. This foundation is supported by 36 concrete and steel piers designed to endure pressures up to 150,000 pounds per square foot from the building’s immense 300 million-pound mass.

Work was briefly interrupted after Hurricane Hugo struck Charlotte on September 22, 1989, bringing winds up to 90 mph and causing minor damage at the construction site.

By November 1990, the structure had risen to its 30th floor, ranking as Charlotte’s fifth tallest building. On March 20, 1991, upon reaching its 47th floor at a height of 589 feet, it overtook One First Union Center (588 feet) to become North Carolina’s tallest skyscraper. The tower was topped out on October 2, 1991, with completion of the final concrete pour. The installation of the distinctive 95-foot crown was finalized in December, bringing the overall height to 871 feet.

In January 1992, following NCNB’s rebranding to NationsBank in mid-1991, the tower was renamed NationsBank Corporate Center. The first occupants moved in on May 1, with the inaugural lighting of the crown occurring on May 9.

The building reached completion in July 1992, and its official dedication ceremony was held on October 17. Festivities included live performances, rappelling demonstrations by Fort Bragg’s 16th Military Police Brigade from the tower’s summit, and a fireworks display.

Post-opening

Since its completion, the Bank of America Corporate Center has functioned as Bank of America’s worldwide headquarters. After NationsBank acquired BankAmerica Corporation in 1998 and adopted the Bank of America name, it divested BankAmerica’s San Francisco headquarters located at 555 California Street. Among the building’s tenants are law firm Moore & Van Allen and accounting firm Ernst & Young.

The building is distinguished by its crown-shaped spire, which serves as an architectural highlight. Unlike many skyscrapers that use reflective stainless steel for their spires, this one is internally illuminated through glass panels and floodlights. Between 2003 and 2004, the spire’s lighting shifted from white to blue in tribute to NFC champions Carolina Panthers. In 2017, LED technology was installed to improve its nighttime visibility.

On July 20, 2005, then-CEO Ken Lewis and Cyprian White announced plans for a new development adjacent to the Corporate Center: a LEED-certified office-retail tower spanning 40 stories along with a luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel featuring 150 rooms—significantly expanding the complex’s commercial presence.

FAA controversy

On May 15, 1989, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the tower’s proposed height posed potential risks to aircraft operating at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, despite objections from leading airline USAir and airport authorities. An appeal filed in June upheld this decision, jeopardizing millions in federal airport funding and creating insurance complications for NCNB.

However, by December 1989, after revised air traffic procedures were introduced and with strong advocacy from U.S. Representative Alex McMillan and Senator Ernest Hollings, the FAA rescinded its earlier ruling. Since that time, there have been no aviation incidents involving the skyscraper.

External links

at Emporis.com