Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) District

Loray Mill, situated on the western side of Gastonia, NC, is experiencing a dramatic revitalization between the Mill Village and downtown Gastonia—a transformation that is expected to continue over the next 10 to 20 years. The initiative’s success is evident in the renovation of the Loray Mill into a mixed-use residential and commercial development, along with the restoration of historic Mill Village homes. These homes are being renovated and marketed as part of a community-wide effort to rejuvenate the area. Developers are already seeing success as the neighborhood evolves into a thriving community with apartments, breweries, coffee shops, spas, and local artisan markets.

The City of Gastonia has partnered with LaBella and architectural firm Pendulum Studio on the Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) Complex, designed to boost the local economy and enhance lifestyles in the Loray Mill neighborhood. The expansive, multi-purpose complex includes a sports field, minor league baseball facilities, restaurants, retail spaces, apartments, and hotels.

To accommodate the FUSE project, the City acquired four blocks just west of downtown Gastonia. Civil design for this 12-acre urban site involved demolishing abandoned streets, relocating utilities and drainage systems, designing site infrastructure and erosion control measures, and securing necessary permits. The drainage system included an underdrain for the ball field, concourse and site drainage, and upgrades to the street system connections.

This large, multi-disciplinary project required close coordination with project architects, MEP, and structural teams. The City employed a Construction Manager at Risk to incorporate value engineering at every project milestone. Biweekly coordination meetings involved multiple city departments—including engineering, planning, utilities, water/sewer, electrical, economic development, fire, inspections, budgeting, and the City’s Manager’s office—as well as the Gastonia Grizzlies. The process was a collaborative “design by committee” approach. LaBella remained committed to project timelines, providing continuous support throughout the design and construction phases.