The Square at South End in Charlotte, North Carolina, features curtain wall and storefront by EFCO. The building is a LEED Silver-certified mixed-use office building for USAA, a large financial services company serving the military community. The building is 10-stories and 153,000-square-feet tower.
Designed by Axiom Architecture, the structure stands on the corner of S. Tryon Street and West Boulevard in Charlotte’s South End District. Its exterior balances glass, metal and masonry in a style defined by transparent columns and horizontal bands created with EFCO fenestration and framing products. A brand of Apogee Architectural Metals, EFCO is represented by WCJ Sales in North Carolina.
EFCO products used
To achieve The Square at South End’s aesthetic, performance and sustainability goals, the architectural team specified EFCO 5600 Series curtain wall, 401 and 302 Series storefront, 3000 Series sliding doors, and D500 and T351 TerraStile Series swing entrance systems. The aluminum framing members were painted in a black color.
All of EFCO’s aluminum framing and fenestration for The Square at South End was installed by 1st Choice Glass’s North Carolina glazing team. EFCO systems are engineered for compatibility and flexibility. Roll-on horizontals and concealed fasteners provide uninterrupted joinery. Saving time during fabrication and in the field, EFCO supplies snap-on face covers, uniform glazing gaskets, variable-position and -depth mullions, variable-height intermediate horizontals and sills, and an accessory line of perimeter anchors, pocket fillers and door adaptors, plus other options.
Ensuring performance as specified, EFCO products are tested for air and water resistance, structural integrity, thermal cycling and acoustic ratings. The curtain wall and high-traffic, heavy-duty swing doors are certified through the National Fenestration Rating Council’s Component Modeling Approach (NFRC CMA) program. EFCO curtain wall systems also are supported with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
Twice-certified LEED Silver
The Square at South End’s energy-efficient building envelope helped earn its U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver certification. It received the maximum credits for daylighting and quality views. Natural light reduces the need for electric illumination. Thermally improved framing and solar-control glass lower HVAC loads. Durable frame construction and impact-resistant glazing minimize maintenance time and repair costs. At the end of the products’ long life on the building, the aluminum can be recycled. These attributes can assist in conserving resources and lowering emissions.
The property was initially certified Silver under the LEEDv4 BD+C: Core and Shell program when it opened 2021. Demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, it was recertified to meet LEED v4.1 criteria in 2023.
In addition to contributing to the building’s sustainability goals, EFCO systems help keep The Square at South End’s office workers comfortable and productive through natural light and floor-to-ceiling views of South End and Charlotte’s center city.
As The Square at South End’s signature tenant, USAA leased six floors consisting of approximately 90,000 square feet of office space. The building amenities include a two-story fitness center, a coffee bar, a rooftop restaurant, and a 10th floor, 2,300-square-foot terrace overlooking Uptown.