Catawba Nation Senior Center

The Catawba people have lived along the banks of the Carolinas' Catawba River for thousands of years and, to this day, embrace a rich cultural history deeply rooted in the waters of the river. They engaged Progressive Companies in 2020 for master planning services to create a senior housing development and community center, providing a place for the senior tribe members to congregate and access community and health services. The center provides multipurpose space for social and recreational activities, and craft spaces embrace the tribe's cultural heritage of pottery making. The senior center’s design focuses on connectivity to the earth and tribal land. The Progressive team selected materials based on those naturally found in the surrounding area, and the exterior design is influenced by the traditional Catawba "long house." In 2022, the project was awarded a Merit Design Award from AIA Charlotte.