Court Square Center - Rhodes Jennings / Lincoln Tower Development

The developers of Court Square Center, CGI & Partners Court Square Center, LLC) see the project as the integration of the 19th century architectural heritage of Memphis with the sensibility of modern design and adaptive re-use to create a revitalized urban community setting.  John Basek, principal in CGIPCSC says, “We shall develop Court Square Center on the principles of “pride of place,” appreciation of history, and commitment to community.”

As the project nears construction start in 2nd Quarter 2004, the Court Square Center Project will transform three late 19th /early 20th century commercial buildings – Lowenstein, Court Annex and the iconic Lincoln-American Tower – located in the very heart of downtown overlooking Court Square Park, into mixed-use functions of residential and retail/commercial.  The design objective is to merge new layers of architecture, and new uses, with the beauty and spirit of the original buildings.  The residential portion of the project will account for 96 rental apartments and lofts in approximately 80% of the leasable space, with the ground floors and mezzanines being designed as retail/commercial and public space.

Each of the buildings will have unique characteristics, and no two residential apartments will be exactly alike:  

LINCOLN AMERICAN TOWER
The 22-storey Lincoln American Tower (LAT), built in the late 1920’s, is the heart of the Court Square Center project. A reverential replica of the world famous Woolworth building. With its memorable silhouette in the Memphis skyline, and with its well-preserved white terra cotta facades, LAT will offer a wide variety of residential apartments ranging in size from 500 square feet to 1500 square feet, with spectacular views to all four points of the compass.  The Tower apartments of LAT will offer unique residences on a world class scale.  Basek says, “We know of nothing like it in the world, where an iconic (former) office tower is re-invented as a stunning residential area, with views to match.”  A spectacular atrium space will be added to the court in the “U” shaped tower plan.  A quality bistro restaurant with outdoor terrace on Court Square will be a feature of the ground floor.

LOWENSTEIN and COURT ANNEX BUILDINGS
The Main Street entrance to the Lowenstein building is through a thirty-seven foot high, cast iron archway, leading into a grand arcade.  Glass walls form the ground floor arcade and mezzanine area perimeters, and the immediate impressions are defined by light, activity, and the variety of functions.  The Court Square Center design provides tenant flexibility for multiple users, or for a large user. Natural light cascades into the floors from two levels of window walls on Main Street and Jefferson Avenue, and from the interior light atriums.

The Lowenstein includes Basement Parking, a Ground Level Retail Gallery, Mezzanine Live-work Lofts on the Second Level, and Residential Lofts up to the Roof Level.  New Penthouse Loft units have also been added to the top of the Lowenstein building.  The Court Annex will include similar functions as the Lowenstein building, with ground level commercial space, and residential lofts up to the roof level.  Each residential unit will be unique – ranging in size from 750 square feet to over 2000 square feet, depending on location in either building.  Maple flooring, high quality kitchen and bathroom appliances and fixtures, high ceilings and wonderful light will be only some of the features.

The insertion of full-height atria, visible from the Ground Level Retail Gallery up through the roof, will be one of the few modern design signature elements, which is also vital to the quality of light and living in the Lowenstein and Court Annex loft communities. 

Entrance to the Court Annex ground floor may be from either the Lowenstein ground floor arcade, or from the Court Square park.  A dramatic impression occurs immediately, from the contrast of the floor area versus the ceiling height.  Natural light comes in from three sides.  The first basement level has windows on three sides, and brings natural light into the space. The project design highlights the multi-leveled openness for retail, gallery, or combined commercial use.  The ceiling height of the ground floor of Court Annex is twenty feet, and over eleven feet in each of the two basement levels.  The underground parking garage is accessible by elevator from the central arcade, and by entrance door through a Court Annex lower level.

Basek reminds us “Noteworthy buildings, such as those of the Court Square Center Project, form important points of reference in the memory of citizens and the community.  The Court Square Center Project will transform an entire city block and public park in the very heart of downtown Memphis into modern living spaces, bringing new residents to the downtown community.  The retail component of Court Square Center will serve as a social condenser, creating activity and interaction, while residents and visitors will have easy access to the Cannon Performing Arts Center, the Memphis Redbirds ballpark, the Mississippi River Walk and the Peabody Hotel among a wide variety of venues which are nearby.