Jim Babinchak
Leadership
Fort Mill, SC
With multiple corporate headquarters, proximity to the Anne Springs Close Greenway, and direct access to the interstate, Cooper Carry wanted Kingsley to not only be a conversation changer in Fort Mill but also a unique mixed-use project in the Charlotte Market. With 1.5 million square feet of commercial space, Kingsley is a new hub for the region.
Inspired by the rich textile heritage of the area and of the Springs family, this project weaves the past and future together to create a variety of warm, welcoming spaces where memories can be made. The style uses industrial cues; stock steel profiles, simple masonry masses, brick, and wood cladding are used in a method that feels collaged, rather than contrived.
Upon turning off Highway 160, carefully detailed brick arches open to the vitality of the businesses beyond, while contemporary steel trellises cast striated shadows on the ground. The Warehouse reflects the style of the original Fort Mill Manufacturing Company, with a metal building motif. At the heart of the project, the Kingsley Stack thoughtfully reinterprets smokestacks of the past and serves as a gathering space and beacon for the project. Textile Way guides you into the heart of Kingsley, where Broadcloth Commons, The Yard, and an array of great restaurants come together, all set near the shores of a 10-acre lake.
A lush meadow landscape invites you into the site, which unfolds into an amphitheater at a raised plaza intersection. At The Yard, contemporary edges, rich textures, and soft landscaping create multiple spaces for relaxing and people-watching. Graphic storytelling elements provide a nod to Kingsley’s heritage and make wayfinding accessible.
Kingsley is an heirloom project, which honors past generations by providing a development that will be cherished by the community for years to come.
This project was designed in collaboration with LandDesign.
project scope
660-Acre Mixed-Use Development / 1.5 Million SF
design services
CLient
Clear Springs Development Company
Awards