The Warehouse District’s landmark Depot Historic District is getting a glow-up. Serving up a trackside transformation that promises to redefine the district—and DTR—LODEN Development’s ambitious plan reimagines the cobblestone parking lot between the railroad tracks and Davie Street into a vibrant work-play-stay mixed-use destination.
Anchored by an eight-story 170-room boutique hotel and rooftop bar with sweeping city vistas, the rail-front revamp serves lodgers and locals alike a veritable playground to the tune of 30K+ square feet of street-level retail, complete with microshops and pop-up experiences; more than an acre of outdoor gathering spaces; and 20K square feet of elevated office space.
With a world-class design team at the helm, the project—targeted for completion by 2028—pairs place-making with preservation, with design minds behind some of the city’s most notable builds steering this next-gen revival. Think David Baker Architects and Gensler on architectural design, McAdams and Site Collaborative shaping the built environment, and The Creative Office of Joshua Gajownik crafting the brand story. The result? A thoughtful fusion of legacy and liveliness—preserving the historic Depot while ushering the Warehouse District into its next era.
Rendering courtesy of LODEN/Gensler/David Baker Architects
And thanks to dual “front door” design and a network of interwoven pedestrian pathways, the revitalized district will serve as a seamless connector for Downtown districts and destinations, from the expanded Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater to Glenwood South and up-and-coming West End—altogether linking “people, ideas and neighborhoods together,” says LODEN partner Henry Ward. “There’s real energy in this part of the city.”
Known for “activating underused spaces with intentional design and community-focused features,” LODEN will fold in a mix of layered green spaces, a public plaza and pedestrian-friendly corridors to create a true urban gathering ground. Local and regional retailers will also get in on the action, helping draw in not just hotel guests and office tenants, but neighbors, day-trippers and the afterwork crowd alike.
Gensler’s Raleigh footprint also runs deep—contributing to such major projects as Bandwidth’s global HQ, the mixed-use Bloc[83] Tower II, 400H, and the upcoming transformation of the Lenovo Center.
The bold vision for this iconic district is the latest in a wave of adaptive reuse shaping Raleigh’s urban story—honoring what was, while making room for what’s next. It’s development that preserves character without stalling progress. And with projects like The Depot, the city’s past and future don’t just coexist—they elevate each other. Keep your eyes to the sky.
Retreat, revive and rest up at DTR’s new destination hotel + rooftop bar.
Setting the, well, tempo for DTR as a destination, enter Homewood Suites and Tempo by Hilton Raleigh Downtown, bowing as early as end of August. Only the fourth Tempo in the world—and CN Hotels’ first dual concept—the McKibbon Hospitality-managed brand chose Downtown Raleigh as one of its premiere properties for its competitive growth, propelling the city into the ranks of other upper-class East Coast markets—and alongside the likes of Tempo’s premiere trio selects Manhattan, Louisville and Nashville.
“We feel we’ve been received by Visit Raleigh and the other Downtown hotels as a new partner that’s going to grow the area and enhance their hotels,” says Dual General Manager Robert Ambersley. “The excitement from Visit Raleigh specifically over getting the Hilton brand Downtown has been stated very clearly to us.”
Not just a place to lay your bags and rest your head, the lifestyle hotel is an experience, serving at once to reimagine an overnight—weekend, week or even monthlong—stay while also leaning into the community aspect via public spaces that’ll appeal to Raleighites as well.
An architectural beacon from ground to sky, Tempo is primely positioned at the intersection of West Davie and South McDowell streets, with easy access to the Warehouse District, Fayetteville Street and Glenwood South.
The dual concept boasts 134 Homewood Suites and 127 Tempo rooms—the former geared toward more transient family travel, weddings and the like with homey accommodations feat. a couch, TV, wardrobes and a flex table, while the latter boasts upgraded materials and accouterments for the biz-savvy travel. Think a backlit “power-up” zone for taking Zoom meetings, bathroom mirrors with built-in speakers, and a cozy “power-down” zone a la beds with wraparound headboards and ample USB ports positioned in front of a 65-inch TV. And for those who never skip a workout, wellness suites offer an in-room Peloton, resistance bands and free weights.
Doubling down on that healthy lifestyle, Tempo’s downstairs all-day open-to-the-public Moonsong Cafe will offer freshly made ops like protein shakes, fresh coffee and avocado toast—plus cocktails and mocktails. Positioned in the expansive natural-lit lobby, the lounge allows patrons to relish in some of the hotel’s many “look-up moments,” including ~100 art pieces by local artists—the most prominent of which is a Sir Walter Raleigh mural adorning the decorative stairs. “The goal is for [guests] to stop looking at their phones and look up at all these beautiful surroundings,” emphasizes McKibbon Hospitality Dual Director of Sales Laureen Cooney.
But where visitors and Raleighites alike will really be able to enjoy a breathtaking respite is at Tempo’s rooftop Urban Oak, aka the City of Oaks’ tallest lounge and bar. The intimate space serves up incredible views of the city via its two patios (one covered, the other open-air)—plus a stunning interior bar, lounge seating and even wicker swings, with an indoor oak tree and unique light fixtures serving as added primo look-up moments to take in while indulging in small plates and cocktails.
“We definitely view [Urban Oak] as for the community, for Raleigh,” maintains Ambersley of the aptly dubbed restaurant in the sky. “This is not just for our hotel guests to hop on the elevator and grab a drink. We see it as a destination”—whether for a light dinner or pre-/post-meal cocktails.
So while you might not think of Raleigh as a tourist town—yet—Tempo is here to turn the tide, attracting both out-of-towners and residents alike to a one-of-a-kind destination helping put the City of Oaks on the map. hilton.com
