About this project

In Awe of Charlotte is a research initiative, made possible by a grant from the Gambrell Foundation, that explores the profound connection between awe and the city.

Awe is a rare and powerful feeling we experience when something transcends the ordinary — moments of vastness, beauty, or wonder that shift our perspective. It can be sparked by a sweeping skyline at sunrise, a quiet park bathed in light, or an unexpected act of kindness. Awe reminds us of what’s bigger than ourselves and what connects us to one another.

But awe doesn’t happen only by accident. When cities are intentionally designed to support these moments — when architecture, nature, and shared spaces inspire — it is more than just function and beauty. It can create a foundation for connection, care, and well-being.

In Awe of Charlotte seeks to understand how awe emerges in the places where our everyday lives unfold. We have explored how the built environment shapes emotional experiences, so that we may inspire new ways of designing cities that support people thriving.

This project invites you to see Charlotte — and cities everywhere — as opportunities to nurture awe, belonging, and a better quality of life for all.

About the authors

In addition to the young people who shaped the Charlotte character, there is a dedicated team of strategists, researchers, data and social scientists, and designers behind In Awe of Charlotte.

The Gambrell Foundation

The Gambrell Foundation's mission is to help create a community where everyone can forge powerful bonds with the community and achieve greater success. The foundation strives to identify promising initiatives and policies while prioritizing the historical, cultural, and shared narratives that shape our interactions and solutions. They are investing in ideas worth trying and hope to cultivate the soil and plant the seeds for a brighter, more connected future in Charlotte. The Gambrell Foundation has long been dedicated to transforming Charlotte into a beacon of economic mobility, human flourishing, and equitable living.

Gehl

Gehl is a global urban strategy and design studio, interested in the relationships between urban form and quality of life. They are dedicated to creating inclusive neighborhoods and spaces that foster a sense of belonging and empower people to take part in shaping their cities. Their expertise spans architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, and city planning. Gehl addresses global challenges using empirical analysis, designing for social behavior to create meaningful and lasting change.

Thank you to all the individuals who worked hard to bring this project to life. It has been awe-inspiring to collaborate.

Gehl
Sophia Schuff, Project Director
Louise Kielgast, Urban Health Expert
Jeff Risom, Senior Project Director
Rebecca Cook, Project Manager
Olivia Flynn, Senior Designer
Miriam Sode Alsteen, Behavioral Strategist
Adam Eriksson, Data Scientist
Clara McNair, Creative Technologist
Julia D Day, Project Director, Reference

The Gambrell Foundation
Brian Collier, President
Melissa Nemec, Program Director
Sally Gambrell, CEO

Collaborators
Thank you to Dacher Keltner for the foundational research and his continuous project advisory. 

Thank you to the researchers at BUILD  for the collaboration on learning form the Nordics. Malene Lindberg, Bence Bøje-Kovács, Elise Lange, Lars Pico, thank you for navigating all the possibilities and impossibilities with us. 

Thank you to The Happiness Research Institute; Catarina Lachund, Micah Kaats, Mike Wiking, for the thought partnership on measuring well-being.

Thank you to the Urban Institute and urbanCORE at UNC Charlotte; Lori Thomas, Toye Watson, Byron White for sharing knowledge, data, and ideas.

Thank you to LISC for the support and feedback; Hiba Salih, Jordan Braswell, Albert Mills, Matthew Perkins

Thank you to Tommi Laitio for your continual inspiring collaboration.

Thank you to our collaborators at the City of Charlotte; Alysia Osbourne, Toluwalase Ibikunle for sharing your work, input and feedback.

Thank you to the many local leaders in Charlotte who took the time to show us around your communities and share stories of Charlotte. Thank you to Sil Ganzo, ourBRIDGE for Kids; Joi Mayo, City Council District 3; Adam Rhew and Lizzy Sirkin, SouthPark: Community Partners; Tim Miner and Matt Olin, Charlotte is Creative; Tommy Mann, Camp North End.

Thank you for the community organizers who helped recruit, train, and support young people and their data collection: Amy Farrell,  Faith Fox, Jemarion Young. Kelsey Van Dyke, Leah Jones, Sil Ganzo, Tim Miner, and Toye Watson.

Thank you to all the community leaders and awe-makers for the foundational caretaking they do of their communities and for sharing their time and expertise with us.

Report: A Charlotte that Cares for You
Read the report to dive deeper into insights about awe and the built environment in Charlotte.

Land Acknowledgement
Before this land was named Charlotte, it was used as a place of meeting and trade by a diverse group of Indigenous peoples, including the Catawba, Cherokee, Congaree, and Saponi Peoples, all of whom have stewarded this land throughout the generations.

Get in touch
If you'd like to know more about this project or get in touch with the Gehl or Gambrell team about this work, send us a note at storiesofawe@gehlpeople.com.