South Yard

South Yard is an adaptive reuse project in South Fayetteville that transforms the former Farmers Cooperative site into a mixed-use neighborhood destination. The project began in 2018 and brings together multifamily apartments, commercial spaces, public green space, and the new Moxy Hotel Fayetteville. The approximately nine-acre site retains four existing industrial buildings, now home to food and beverage, retail, small office tenants, and the Moxy Hotel lobby. A total of 128 apartments were added to the site, introducing full-time residents and helping activate the development throughout the day and evening.

The architectural approach centers on preserving the character of the original warehouse structures while carefully inserting new construction. Existing masonry walls, concrete facades, and exposed steel remain visible and celebrated. Large window openings and storefront systems were introduced within the existing structural bays, allowing natural light to reach deep into the buildings while maintaining their original rhythm and proportions. Exterior materials such as brick, metal panel, and wood siding were selected to complement the industrial palette without overpowering it.

New residential buildings and the Moxy Hotel tower addition respond to the scale and massing of the historic structures. Simple, rectilinear forms, recessed balconies, and metal-clad volumes create variation while remaining grounded in the site’s industrial language. The layout of the buildings follows the curve of a former rail line, which helped shape the placement of courtyards, pedestrian paths, and gathering areas. This geometry organizes the site into a series of outdoor rooms, including a central lawn and public park space that serve as shared amenities for residents, hotel guests, and visitors.

Outdoor spaces were designed as an extension of the architecture. Boardwalk-style decking, string lighting, native plantings, and preserved building edges create human-scaled environments between the larger volumes. Together, the preserved warehouses and new construction form a cohesive district that balances history and growth. By working with the existing structures instead of replacing them, South Yard maintains a strong connection to its past while supporting housing, hospitality, and local businesses in one unified setting.