Oak Over Main
Location: Highlands, NC
Type: Commercial Renovation
Oak Over Main is a mixed-use renovation that strives to blend old world charm with modern world design. Our clients purchased a series of dilapidated and intertwined buildings on Main Street in downtown Highlands, NC with a vision to create fresh commercial spaces and contemporary rental apartments while staying true to the character of downtown Highlands.
Sustainable Highlights
- Green roof
- Energy efficiency building envelope upgrades
- Mechanical efficiency upgrades
- Reduced embodied carbon
Project Team
Builder: Lupoli Construction
Interiors: Alchemy Design Studio
Green Roof: Living Roofs
Structural Engineer: Prosim Engineering
MEP Engineer: Proficient Engineering
Photographer: Tzu Chen
The four luxury rental apartments provide valuable and rare downtown lodging in Highlands. Each apartment features its own private terrace that opens into the rooftop garden with walkways, native plants, and a communal patio overlooking Main Street. This green space connects guests to nature while still having the convenience of downtown living.
The interiors are composed of warm tones and natural materials that reflect the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Each apartment is unique with refined interiors that feel cozy, inviting, and sophisticated. The existing steel structure was left exposed to help tell the story of the history of the building.
Local artists and craftspeople were used throughout the project, connecting the spaces to the culture of the region and reinforcing the uniqueness of Highlands and the southern Appalachian mountains. A custom steel table and wall sculpture were created by Making Whole.
Our process included aligning the project goals with the Highlands Community Plan’s goals: “to maintain and enhance the town center’s village character and blend with the natural environment.” The design also converted an existing loading zone on Oak Street into street trees, a sidewalk, and parking. The project is a catalyst that activates this part of town for other redevelopment – another goal of the Highlands Community Plan.
The existing buildings had been compromised in many ways by previous renovations and created numerous challenges to the project. Close coordination with consultants redefined the 60-year-old buildings’ capacity and potential for higher value revenue. The creative effort of the clients and full project team was needed to transform these underwhelming buildings into a renewed and vibrant part of the historic Highlands village.
