Corporate office towers have become the dominant building type of the city within our modern era. Universally, these structures have been developed at the expense of street level retail, of human scaled architecture, and ultimately, of a engaged and varied street life. The First Citizens Tower in downtown Charlotte is no exception. Presenting a bland facade to the street, the existing building drains what ever energy may exist on the street. Working with TrizecHahn, the new owners of the tower, Shook Kelley developed a plan to reposition the ground level space to provide new street level retail while accommodating the needs of the existing banking tenant.