The BEATY CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATION in Charlotte, NC was created to be more than a place to overcome addiction. It was conceived as a place where individuals can take the first steps toward a new life in recovery. The environment itself becomes part of the healing—offering clarity in moments of uncertainty, intuitive paths that replace confusion with calm, and human‑scaled spaces that foster dignity, trust, and connection. With a commitment to healing the whole person, the design supports the individual's recovery journey while nurturing belonging, opportunity, and stability. This is a place where individuals can transform their lives together, opening the door to a new beginning
Rising on Charlotte Rescue Mission’s urban campus near Bank of America Stadium, the new Beaty Center for Transformation— internally known as the Rebound Men's Program—represents more than a new building. It is a purpose‑built environment shaped to support dignity, belonging, and long‑term recovery. Guided by close collaboration with Charlotte Rescue Mission leadership, the design team approached the project with a central question voiced throughout the process by the design team:
HOW CAN ARCHITECTURE ACTIVELY SUPPORT RECOVERY? That question informed decisions at every scale, including where the building sits on the site, resulting in a residence hall that feels intentionally different from institutional housing or clinical facilities.
TAKING INVENTORY The Beaty Center for Transformation occupies a historically industrial site once associated with Standard Oil facilities constructed in the early 1900s. The campus has evolved over time through a broader master planning effort, which also led to the creation of the nearby Community Matters Café. The residence hall is the second major project completed for Charlotte Rescue Mission as part of that long‑range vision.
BEATY CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATION
COMMUNITY MATTERS CAFE
One of the project’s defining challenges was introducing a new multi‑story building onto a campus already operating at full capacity, while minimizing disruption of the daily rhythms of care and programming. The site is tightly constrained by existing buildings, limited parking, and active services, all set within a rapidly evolving urban context. In response, the design carefully balanced progress with restraint. Careful site planning balanced preservation and progress, retaining several adjacent
multistory structures while clearing the building site for a transformative new development. The Mission operates as a 24‑hour facility. Construction sequencing, building placement, and circulation were all carefully planned so that services could continue without interruption. These realities directly shaped where the new building could sit—and how residents would ultimately experience entering it.
FINDING HOPE AT FIRST SIGHT In recovery‑centered environments, the act of entering a building carries profound emotional weight.
HOW CAN WE MAKE RECOVERY MORE DIGNIFIED? For the new Beaty Center for Transformation, the design team reimagined arrival as a moment of dignity and care, focusing on the procession from site to entry as an intentional, welcoming transition rather than a point of control.
CURATING COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE Located near I-277 and adjacent to Bank of America Stadium, the building sits within a historically industrial area now experiencing rapid change. While the residence hall is one of the taller structures in its immediate context, its massing and material choices were carefully calibrated to remain respectful of surrounding buildings.
Exterior materials reference the site’s industrial history while remaining durable and contemporary. Throughout the process, the team focused on being a good neighbor— balancing visibility with humility, and presence with care for the surrounding community.
Safety and security remain integral, yet quietly integrated. Perimeter fencing is minimal and visually recessive, while architectural cues gently guide movement toward the front door without conveying restriction. Upon arrival, residents pass into a bright, double‑height vestibule filled with natural light—marking a clear and compassionate experience and setting a tone of openness, respect, and hope from the first step inside.
The front desk is clearly visible from the entry, reinforcing both safety and welcome. The space communicates a clear, immediate message: this is a place where recovery is respected, and where people are treated with dignity as they begin a new chapter.
COMMUNITY DINING
STRUCTURED FOR HUMAN-SCALE HEALING The building’s internal organization reinforces progression, community, and respect. Shared spaces are concentrated on the first floor, including communal dining areas that open directly to an outdoor courtyard. These spaces encourage connection, routine, and daily interaction—key components of a recovery‑focused environment.
Thoughtful details are woven throughout the building to support orientation and meaning. A donor wall near the entry publicly acknowledges the generosity that made the project possible. A particularly symbolic feature is a time capsule embedded within a prominent brick column in the dining space, marking the building as both a present‑day resource and a long‑term investment in recovery. Exterior mural space was also intentionally incorporated, allowing storytelling and creativity to be displayed on the building envelope.
Communal dining, gathering, and support spaces on the first floor create opportunities for connection, fellowship, and shared experience, fostering a strong sense of community throughout the recovery journey. Admissions and counseling spaces are located on the second floor, embedding recovery services within the heart of the building rather than separating them from daily life. Administrative offices, learning center, and the chapel occupy the third floor, supporting both operational and spiritual aspects of the mission. One of the most meaningful design decisions occurs at the top of the building. The upper two floors are dedicated entirely to resident rooms. Elevating residents physically within the building reinforces their importance and worth, offering privacy, improved daylight, and a tangible sense of belonging.
Administration
Counseling
Admissions
Dining
Building Support
Kitchen
Chapel
Resident Room
Circulation
Vertical Circulation
Community Space
COMMUNITY SPACE
CHAPEL
KITCHEN
Designed to support recovery and healing, the Beaty Center for Transformation embraces a layered approach to safety, behavior, and wellbeing, with many of its most effective design responses intentionally unobtrusive—working quietly in the background to shape a supportive environment. A comprehensive lighting strategy balances fixture selection, color temperature, and intuitive controls to foster comfort, wellness, and a sense of stability throughout the building. This philosophy extends to the furnishings and material palette, where clinical and institutional cues were deliberately avoided in favor of warm, familiar forms and finishes. By balancing durability with comfort, the interiors create calming, welcoming spaces that promote dignity, reinforce stability, and ultimately feel more like home than a facility.
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY Guided by the spirit of the 12-step program—where reflection, accountability, and intentional growth are central to the journey— the Beaty Center for Transformation and Community Matters Café were shaped through a process of thoughtful refinement. Careful stewardship of resources challenged the team to continually evaluate how each design decision contributed to the safety, dignity, and daily experience of residents. This disciplined approach mirrors the principles of recovery itself: clarifying priorities, reducing distractions, and focusing investment where it can have the greatest impact— supporting healing, stability, and long-term wellbeing.
The new BEATY CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATION is the culmination of nearly a decade of study, collaboration, and refinement. More than a housing facility, it is an environment carefully aligned with their values— supporting recovery not only through programs, but through space itself. By prioritizing dignity, community, and healing at every scale, the project demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can meaningfully support people as they work toward stability, purpose, and hope.
Working with LS3P on this project was a joy. The care and concern they showed for understanding our intentions to provide a welcoming environment for our residents was evident in all discussions. From access points to color schemes, to noise control, the intentionality across the board was a breath of fresh air. The vision of showing dignity and respect to our residents was executed well. Now, as we walk through the building, tour guests, and encounter residents, it's humbling to see the mission in motion. The energy in the building is lively and productive as we see men come through carrying heavy burdens and learn to live differently as they move through the Rebound program surrounded by caring and professional staff in a beautifully designed and constructed building.
The Beaty Center of Transformation is alive and fulfilling its purpose.
Trina Fullard CCS LCAS President/CEO, Charlotte Rescue Mission