The Innovation Barn, located at 932 Seigle Ave. is ground zero for Circular Charlotte, a joint project with the City of Charlotte to transition Charlotte to a circular economy. The Innovation Barn is a combination of entrepreneurial businesses, zero-waste initiatives, and a space to convene groups in order to learn more about and implement circular projects. The City of Charlotte owns the building and Envision Charlotte (non-profit organization) manages, designs, and implements the programming within.
During this FREE, family-friendly tour, you'll get to experience and explore the inner workings of circular and sustainable initiatives such as: Aquaponics vertical farming (featuring a tank filled with tilapia), Plastics Lab (where we shred, melt, + remold plastic), Glass Crushing Center (turning glass bottles into crushed glass cullet + silica sand), Textile Diversion (through clothing repair, redesign + repurposing), Waxhaw Worm Farm (complete with our black soldier fly room+ worm composting!), Charlotte Mushroom Work's mushroom grow container, Change Please Coffee (a non-profit cafe working to combat homelessness)....and more!
The Innovation Barn has interactive exhibits for youth, and a beer/wine/coffee bar for adults to enjoy.
NOTE: minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Due to demand, tickets must be secured prior to the start of each tour to ensure staff availability. To schedule a private group tour, please email: engage@envisioncharlotte.org.