Xbox, karaoke and amenity spaces: Inside Lowe’s new $153 million South End tech hub

Three years in the making, Lowe’s officially opened its $153 million South End tech hub center on Tuesday with media tours.

It will house about 2,000 workers as the home improvement giant emphasizes digital business growth.

The Mooresville-based home improvement retailer occupies the entire 23-story building at 100 W. Worthington Ave., Randy Alexander, director of technology business management for Lowe’s, told The Charlotte Observer during a tour Tuesday.

There also is ground-floor retail, including apparel stores Allbirds and Outdoor Voices and soon-to-open Brown Bag Seafood Co.

In August, a year after the Lowe’s sign went up on the South End building, more than 1,000 employees began working from the 357,000-square-foot site.

It’s been three years in the making since developers Childress Klein and RAM Realty Advisors broke ground on the office tower. Lowe’s had expected to move in at the end of last year, but the pandemic caused multiple construction delays.

Lowe’s has a 15-year lease on the building.

Calling South End home

Technology plays a critical role in Lowe’s future, Chief Digital and Information Officer Seemantini Godbole told The Charlotte Observe. She said Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison emphasizes that great retailers have great technology for employee and customer experiences.

Pointing out the Lowe’s store on Iverson Way from her office view, Godbole said the Charlotte region has 28 stores and 11,000 employees, and South End’s vibrant community is attractive to tech workers.

“We wanted to be where they are and be able to attract the best talent,” she said. “We really feel part of the community here, just by being here.”

Patronizing local businesses is part of the center’s design, Alexander said. Instead of an in-house cafeteria like at the Mooresville headquarters or a coffee shop, for example, he said there are plenty of places to eat, drink and shop in South End.

“We want our associates out in the community,” he said.

Across the street, Superica Tex-Mex restaurant is already seeing a lunchtime boost from large groups of Lowe’s employees, general manager Scott Lilly said. He anticipates business picking up as more employees work from the hub.

Fintech competition is growing in Charlotte among companies like Lending Tree, less than a mile away at Vantage Park Drive, and Credit Karma in Ballantyne.

Lowe’s tech hub center positions include data analysts and software and infrastructure engineers with average annual salaries over $117,000.

Inside Lowe’s new tech hub center

Several tech companies in Charlotte, including Lending Tree and Credit Karma, have perks like full-time baristas, game rooms and bars. Lowe’s also has a number of amenities at the tech center.

Every floor has unobstructed open-window skyline views of Charlotte.

The industrial interior design pays homage to Lowe’s home improvement stores, with open ceilings throughout the center of the building. A cafeteria area gives off a do-it-yourself vibe with open construction in the kitchen setting, complete with plants sold in Lowe’s stores.

The top four floors are considered amenity spaces, Alexander said, mixing workstations with casual seating, along with work pod areas for collaboration. Every other floor either has a large demonstration area or large cafe space.

Employees can take a break to enjoy games like table tennis, Xbox and air hockey. Or step inside a quiet room to lie down or take a seat in one of two massage chairs.

Pairing art and technology, employees can use a cell phone and take a self-guided tour of the 15 murals in the building to learn about the artist and the paintings.

Employees also can write on some of the walls, which have been painted with whiteboard paint.

The stage in the two-level auditorium with seating for 168 people is used for karaoke, along with large meetings and town halls, including visits from vendor partners like Google Cloud. It has a massive screen with uptown Charlotte’s skyline as its backdrop.

The top floor has conference and board rooms, and executive offices like Godbole’s, plus a terrace with a view of uptown Charlotte. A large community event space with a massive screen overlooks NoDa.

There’s also a “usability lab” for test marketing with one-way mirrors to watch, for example, customers using the website to monitor where their eyes move on the site.

What they’re doing in the tech office

Lowe’s employees at the tech center are exploring AI and machine learning to serve customers better.

This year, for example, Lowe’s launched: a “Measure Your Space” program. Using a cell phone, customers can scan a room to get the floor plan, room measurements and a personalized estimate, then order flooring all at the same time.

On Tuesday, Innovation Lab employees showcased interactive technology that provides 3D visualization using augmented reality glasses to replicate actual store shelves. The technology helps with product placement planning and tracking what’s in stock for customers and employees.

“What we really wanted to do,” Godbole said, “was to create a place for technology associates to be able to collaborate and imagine.”

This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Xbox, karaoke and amenity spaces: Inside Lowe’s new $153 million South End tech hub."