In December, South Piedmont Community College marked a major milestone in the future of entrepreneurship in Union County – the topping out of Ascend704, a new 49,000-square-foot coworking and innovation hub on the Old Charlotte Highway campus.
With the final steel beam raised into place, community leaders, partners, and supporters gathered to celebrate the completion of the building’s structural framework. Before it was secured, attendees signed the beam – a time-honored construction tradition symbolizing pride, partnership, and shared progress.
But this moment was about more than steel.
It was about elevation.
It was about community.
And it was about building a space where people and ideas rise together.
The L. Carlton Tyson Ascend704 Coworking Space
Honoring a Visionary Legacy
During the ceremony, South Piedmont officially unveiled the name of the facility:
The L. Carlton Tyson Ascend704 Coworking Space
Ascend704 proudly honors L. Carlton Tyson, a transformative local businessman whose developments helped shape modern Union County.
As founder of Ty-Par Realty, LC Tyson Construction Company, and RMMC, Tyson played a pivotal role in developing residential neighborhoods, medical and industrial parks, hotels, office buildings, and retail centers across the region. His work helped build the physical foundation of Union County’s growth.
Now, his legacy will support the next generation of entrepreneurs, builders, and visionaries.
The Tyson family’s generous support made this coworking space possible, continuing a longstanding partnership with South Piedmont that includes the Tyson Family Center for Technology.
“We are grateful for the Tyson family’s continued support and honored that L. Carlton Tyson’s legacy will live on through a facility that will strengthen our local economy,” said South Piedmont President Dr. Stacy Waters-Bailey. “We are confident Mr. Tyson would be very proud.”
More Than a Coworking Space Near Charlotte, NC
Ascend704 is not simply shared office space.
It is being intentionally designed as a true entrepreneurship hub in Union County – a place where bold ideas begin, businesses launch, collaborations spark, and innovation accelerates.
When completed in 2026, the 49,000-square-foot facility will include:
Private offices and executive suites
Flexible hot desks for remote professionals and growing teams
A podcasting and videography studio
A large conference and event center
Outdoor gathering space and collaborative work areas
The building will also house the
South Piedmont Small Business Center, bringing mentorship, advising, and educational programming directly into the space.
Workshops.
Networking events.
Pitch competitions.
Guest speakers.
Not just workspace, but a connected ecosystem designed to elevate entrepreneurs and strengthen the regional economy.
As Union County Manager Brian Matthews shared during the ceremony:
“This is a place where ideas will take root, grow, and flourish.”
That vision reflects exactly what Ascend704 represents: progress fueled by collaboration.
A Community-Built Vision for Union County
Ascend704 represents years of planning, public investment, and regional partnership.
In 2022, Union County voters approved nearly $33 million in general obligation bonds to fund the project. This was a powerful vote of confidence in entrepreneurship, workforce development, and economic growth.
During the topping out ceremony, Vannoy Construction Division Manager Jason Smith reflected on the significance of the milestone:
“We look forward to what will be built within these walls long after construction is completed.”
And that’s the heart of it.
The structure may now be in place but the real building begins next:
businesses, partnerships, careers, and opportunities.
Coworking in Monroe, NC Reimagined
For entrepreneurs, startups, small business owners, and remote professionals seeking coworking in Monroe, NC or a Union County coworking space near Charlotte, Ascend704 offers something more.
Not just workspace.
Not just flexibility.
Not just proximity to Charlotte.
But a vibrant, inclusive community where people and ideas rise together.
Presales for memberships are anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, with building completion scheduled later that year.
This milestone marks the beginning of something bigger.
The future of coworking in Union County is rising – one beam at a time.
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