The Atrium Uptown

Always a fan of multi-​use spaces and this definitely gets used all the time. Most of the time it is set up with tables and chairs for folks lunching uptown, but it’s nice to see some blood drives, job fairs, and events here too.
I usually get to walk through here, cutting through the building connections (saves you from walking across streets — a plus especially since I see usually at least one person driving down the wrong way on a one way street uptown). And the tunnels are air conditioned… another plus in the hot summer.
I love the glass ceiling here… makes for some nice lighting and a nice space altogether. There is a stage — I am sure people use it for functions and the Just Fresh location right there.
Overall a great place to walk-​through, people-​watch, or just relax with friends during the Uptown experience.

I have been walking through this place for years and years… not just a public space, it is also a private party space that everything from fund raisers to wedding receptions have taken place.
For us folks in the Financial Industry we like to use this as a remote site for one off meetings… and a nice way to get out of the office without really getting out of the office.
Temperature controlled and kept very clean… add in a nice security force walking around and this place it is a nice place to hang out from time to time.

The Atrium is interesting as an event space, because if we really look at it, most people would call it like it is — a lobby. That is good news, since it means you can get to it easily from a number of directions: The parking deck, the building, even the street give you easy access.
Unfortunately, that means if there is a paid event in there, controlling that access can be a challenge for the organizers, and getting into the event may mean that you have to follow a maze — for instance, walking around from the back to the front just to go back through the appropriate entrance. But it works.
As to an event space, it is nice, but it does not hold a ton of people. Once you get beyond a certain size, it really needs to be a larger space. For your mid-​sized events, the space is excellent, but it can fill up quickly and that is when you can run into issues trying to navigate tables, mingle and also see what is going on at the event.

I have never known this as an event space, but I can see how it would be. During the day it is an indoor courtyard: bright and airy, but sheltered from the Charlotte heat. Throughout the center are tables and chairs were businessmen eat their lunches. They seem happier, now that the dark days of 2008-​10 are over.
This is also the home to one of my favorite Charlotte memories. It was the depths of the recession and everyone in the country was walking around with this glum, shell-​shocked expression, unsure whether life would ever again be worth living. But UNC was in the NCAA tournament and someone had rigged a pair of TVs to the Atrium sound system. Distraught bankers were clustered around, remembering a life before credit risk and CDOs, when life’s biggest worries were the dastardly machinations of Coach K.

Seemingly the go-​to space for big olé events in Uptown, The Atrium is pretty sweet overall. Why? Here’s why.
1) Big, open and airy — plenty of walkin’ around room. Swank-​ay.
2) Supa clean. Like Mr. Clean shiny bald head kind of clean.
3) Access to plenty of parking decks and easy access to outdoor «park» areas and Tryon St.
4) Although it’s quite corporate, the space is quite lovely. Big glass windows, great light and it’s oh so shiny.
If you’re heading to an event here, I’m sure you’ll be happy. It’s just an easy, turn key place to host any wedding, festival, etc. in Uptown!

Visited the atrium for the Japanese Obon Festival held annually the first weekend in August. It’s very spacious and the best thing about it is the air conditioning during a month that is very hot and the weather is completely unpredictable.
There’s a fair amount of space for tables and merchandise inside. Bathrooms are easily accessible and there also happens to be a lot of seating outside for those who want to catch a smoke or just get away from the activities for a few. There’s also enough space to set up a separate table outside as well. Although I don’t recall seeing any Wachovia staff during the events I’ve attended, they have all been fun and maybe that’s the point.

If I was a big time businessman, I would hold a reception for all of employees at The Atrium. Walking through downtown my eyes were drawn to the gorgeous glass entrance and well dressed people coming in and out the front doors. I took a seat on a nearby bench and people watched for sometime, well to be honest with you I was a little lost and I needed a breather. Nonetheless, the illuminated fountains outside the building were very attractive, if I was dreaming I probably would have ran through them like a kid. As I got up to leave I walked closely past the building and admired the décor, marble floors, gorgeous flower arrangements, candle lit tables covered in red velvet table cloths. I will be back when I am more established, Adiós.