Wake Forest Innovation Quarter

[sean]

^ looking at that graphic, i'm inclined to think that there needs to be an additional pedestrian bridge connecting the northern part of this project to patterson avenue. that rail yard really creates a barrier for pedestrian flow and connectivity.

[twincity]

the City approves funding for the construction of the 4-lane Research Parkway. Work could start this December.

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/sep/08/080025/8m-road-plan-okd/

------------------------------------------

9-6-10 update.

Work on Building 91 and another 1-story building on Ivy Street

[twincity]

BioTech Place update from late December

[twincity]

PTRP Holdings LLC requested brownfield certification from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources for a 40+ acre site in the South District. This is said to be the potential home for a 280,000 sf VA medical center that could bring over 1,000 jobs to the research park. Estimates have the new center at up to $100 million and could dwarf Biotech Place as the most expensive construction project in greater downtown.

http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2011/jan/11/WSMET02-research-park-developers-ask-for-brownfiel-ar-683583/

[twincity]

4-23 updates:

BioTech Place

Bailey Power Plant

environmental cleanup

cell phone quality

site at vine & fifth also being cleared

[twincity]

Plant 64

We should soon be hearing about a 400,000 sf residential with retail development for the North District that involves an entire city block. The site is Linden and East 4th street opposite the Wells Fargo Linden Center. Retail is proposed for 4th. The other 4 buildings would become residential.

Designed by Commonwealth Architects. PTRP is starting to resemble Shockoe Bottom.

-3 retail spaces?

-hidden parking

No word on the number units or the developer. I guess theyre banking Biotech Center's success.

-parking on the 1st floor

-rooftop terrace overlooking 5th street

A portion of the RJR parking lot will be reserved for residents. A covered walkway will cross over 5th Street.

[twincity]

BioTech Place photo update:

http://downtownwinstonsalem.blogspot.com/2011/10/biotech-place-restaurant-space.html

[cityboi]

Very impressive project!

[twincity]

4th Street park coming together.

Bailey Power Plant exterior demolition looks to be complete?

Biotech Place update coming soon.

11-26-11

[sean]

those large, brick chimneys are iconic. will they be demolished?

[twincity]

This is rumored to be the next phase involving WFU. We dont know yet if Building 90-1 will be office, lab, residential, or all three!

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Inmar Inc. will expand into renovated R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. space in Winston-Salem by the end of next year, bringing more than 900 employees to the downtown area of the Piedmont Triad Research Park.

Inmar CEO David Mounts announced the move this week at an employee town hall meeting. It answers a question left open since April when the company confirmed it would expand locally rather than move elsewhere.

http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/print-edition/2012/08/03/inmars-900-workers-are-downtown-bound.html

[rancenc]

This will definitely be a signature development once it reaches completion

http://www2.journalnow.com/business/2012/oct/07/work-proceeding-on-bailey-power-plant-renovations-ar-2671294/

[cityboi]

Piedmont Triad Research Park has a new name. It's now called The Wake Forest Innovation Quarter.

 

http://myfox8.com/2013/03/11/piedmont-triad-research-park-changes-name-focus/

[winston's finest]

Bailey Power Plant, located at the intersection of downtown Winston-Salem and the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter (WFIQ), is being redeveloped as 103,100 square feet of cool, distinctive office and retail space.

http://crossstpartners.com/Bailey_Power_Plant.html

 

[zalo]

The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine will lead a $24 million research project that hopes to develop a "body on a chip" that will lead to new antidotes to chemical and biological weapons as reported in the Triad Business Journal.

 

The contract was awarded by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center on behalf of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

The research will build on WFIRM's expertise in generating human organs and tissue from the cellular level. Scientists will build miniaturized human organs that will model the effects of both harmful agents and possible antidotes more efficiently and accurately than testing on animals.

“Miniature lab-engineered, organ-like hearts, lungs, livers and blood vessels – linked together with a circulating blood substitute – will be used both to predict the effects of chemical and biologic agents and to test the effectiveness of potential treatments,” said Dr. Anthony Atala, WFIRM's director and lead investigator on the project. “We are fortunate to have experts from around the country join us on this effort.”

The research process involves placing tiny cellular structures that mimic the functions of the heart, liver and other organs on a 2-inch chip, connected by a system of fluid channels and sensors. The blood substitute feeds the cells and can also introduce the chemical or biological agents and the therapies being tested.

Three-dimensional printing technology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center will be used to print the miniaturized organs onto the chip.

Partners in the research project include Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, University of Michigan, the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Morgan State University in Maryland and The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

[zalo]

The TBJ reports: The YMCA of Northwest North Carolina will open an "express branch" in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. The organization has signed a lease on 10,000 square feet of space in the recently announced 525@Vine building and is scheduled to open next spring.

Developer Wexford Science & Technology is spending $150 million to renovate that building and another former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. building within the Innovation Quarter that will become the new headquarters for retail technology and services firm Inmar. Curt Hzelbaker, CEO of YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, said the Y was attracted to the energy of the Innovation Quarter for its third "Express Y" location.

“Everything from the existing businesses, to the future occupants, to the residential component make Wake Forest Innovation Quarter a vibrant part of downtown, and we are excited to be a part of it,” he said. "The addition of the Y to Wake Forest Innovation Quarter advances our evolution of creating a dynamic epicenter of commerce and culture by providing services to support work-life balance and healthful living,” said Eric Tomlinson, president of Wake Forest Innovation Quarter.

[zalo]

An update on Inmar's new HQ in the IQ, and discussions on how excited the company is to be surrounded by in the spokesman's words the artistic & creative energy of the Quarter.

http://myfox8.com/2013/09/10/renovations-well-underway-at-inmars-new-winston-salem-headquarters/

[zalo]

Updates from FOX 8 regarding the Bailey Park/Power Plant area. The Greenway Mr. Tomlinson speaks of will be connected to the Salem Lake Greenway providing 26 miles of trails to utilize:

http://rmcdn.2mdn.net/MotifFiles/html/4080387/Blalock-Law_New-Address_5-13_1371667891200.mp4

Edited September 19, 2013 by zalo

[zalo]

Research Park updates courtesy of WSJ:

However, about

Wexford Science & Technology LLC has hired Linville Team Partners to market the remaining 70,000 square feet in the 230,000 square feet building now known as 525@Vine which is being renovating for multitenant use for groups wanting to be close to the research taking place in Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. The building is expected to debut next spring.

The neighboring 635 Vine building, at 242,000 square feet, will begin serving as the headquarters for Inmar Inc. by March 30. The company will become the research park’s largest employer at about 912 workers. Together, the two buildings represent a $150 million capital investment by Wexford — the largest project by dollar amount in the research park. It also becomes one of the largest, if not the largest, investment in downtown history. The two buildings were part of the “90 series” of downtown R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. tobacco-processing facilities.

The lease space in 525@Vine is available in increments as small as 2,500 square feet and as large as 35,000. The lease space will cost $21.50 a square foot, which he said offers “a full-service lease” comparable to Class A office lease. There are plans for one or two small cafes similar to the one in Wake Forest BioTech Place.

“There is a pretty large knowledge gap within our community about what is going on in the Innovation Quarter, with most associating this facility as being Wake Forest only,” Coleman Team of Linville Team Partners said. Portions of the 525@Vine building are being dedicated by Wake Forest Baptist to wet laboratory space that is crucial for startup biotech companies. “Wake Forest will have a big presence in the building, but we want to let the community know that nearly a third of it will be available to local innovative companies or companies that serve nearby companies,” Team said. “We also want to attract more diverse tenants and bring in new business from outside Winston-Salem.”

Team said the building could contain an overall workforce ranging from 900 to 1,100, depending on the tenant composition. Eric Tomlinson, president of the research park, projects the overall workforce in the research park will be about 2,800 by the end of 2014. “We’re exploring a number of different options and should have some exciting news to share soon,” Tomlinson said.

Phase Two of Wexford’s involvement is considered pivotal by local economic and elected officials and by the community. The projects are being lauded for providing not only life-sciences research space but also momentum for downtown housing, retail and other economic shots in the arm.

The 525@Vine building already has one non-life-sciences tenant in the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, which is taking a 10,000-square-foot space on the first floor for its second express workout facility in the downtown area.

Forsyth Technical Community College is negotiating on a 10-year lease for a 24,000-square-foot space in one of the two Vine buildings. The space is projected to house the college’s Small Business Center, Corporate Training Center and facilities supporting the biotechnology and nanotechnology programs.

[zalo]

Research Park updates courtesy of WSJ:

Wexford Science & Technology LLC has hired Linville Team Partners to market the remaining 70,000 square feet in the 230,000 square feet building now known as 525@Vine which is being renovating for multitenant use for groups wanting to be close to the research taking place in Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. The building is expected to debut next spring.

The neighboring 635 Vine building, at 242,000 square feet, will begin serving as the headquarters for Inmar Inc. by March 30. The company will become the research park’s largest employer at about 912 workers. Together, the two buildings represent a $150 million capital investment by Wexford — the largest project by dollar amount in the research park. It also becomes one of the largest, if not the largest, investment in downtown history. The two buildings were part of the “90 series” of downtown R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. tobacco-processing facilities.

The lease space in 525@Vine is available in increments as small as 2,500 square feet and as large as 35,000. The lease space will cost $21.50 a square foot, which he said offers “a full-service lease” comparable to Class A office lease. There are plans for one or two small cafes similar to the one in Wake Forest BioTech Place.

“There is a pretty large knowledge gap within our community about what is going on in the Innovation Quarter, with most associating this facility as being Wake Forest only,” Coleman Team of Linville Team Partners said. Portions of the 525@Vine building are being dedicated by Wake Forest Baptist to wet laboratory space that is crucial for startup biotech companies.  “Wake Forest will have a big presence in the building, but we want to let the community know that nearly a third of it will be available to local innovative companies or companies that serve nearby companies,” Team said. “We also want to attract more diverse tenants and bring in new business from outside Winston-Salem.”

Team said the building could contain an overall workforce ranging from 900 to 1,100, depending on the tenant composition. Eric Tomlinson, president of the research park, projects the overall workforce in the research park will be about 2,800 by the end of 2014. “We’re exploring a number of different options and should have some exciting news to share soon,” Tomlinson said.

Phase Two of Wexford’s involvement is considered pivotal by local economic and elected officials and by the community. The projects are being lauded for providing not only life-sciences research space but also momentum for downtown housing, retail and other economic shots in the arm.
The 525@Vine building already has one non-life-sciences tenant in the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, which is taking a 10,000-square-foot space on the first floor for its second express workout facility in the downtown area.

Forsyth Technical Community College is negotiating on a 10-year lease for a 24,000-square-foot space in one of the two Vine buildings. The space is projected to house the college’s Small Business Center, Corporate Training Center and facilities supporting the biotechnology and nanotechnology programs.

[zalo]

FROM THE WFIQ NEWSLETTER: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Oct. 21, 2013 – Forsyth Technical Community College, one of the fastest growing community colleges in the country, celebrated the conclusion of its Momentum Capital Campaign announcing a $7 million Center for Emerging Technologies to be located in Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, a hub for innovation in biomedical science and information technology in downtown Winston-Salem. The 23,900-square-foot facility will open in Innovation Quarter’s 525@Vine building in October 2014 and draw more than 1,200 students to the heart of the city each year. The total amount raised during the campaign was $13.7 million.

“One of the key goals of our capital campaign was to fund a state-of-the-art educational center in Innovation Quarter,” said Gary Green, Ed.D., president of Forsyth Tech. “This new center and its curriculum will address emerging industries and careers throughout the Piedmont Triad area and support the growing research and development efforts underway in Innovation Quarter.”

Located within the Forsyth Tech Center for Emerging Technologies will be the:

• R.J. Reynolds Corporate Training Center, which will support the school’s corporate training partnership programs and provide services for Innovation Quarter tenants;
• Southern Community Small Business Center, which will offer workshops, seminars, individual counseling, and a resource library for business owners and entrepreneurs;
• Lab facilities for the school’s Wells Fargo Nanotechnology Program, the only two-year nanotechnology program offered throughout the Southeast, and the BB&T Biotechnology Program, the largest biotech program of any community college in the state; and
• Offices for BioNetwork, the statewide biotechnology work force initiative run by the N.C. Community College System.

“We are embarking on a significant relationship with Forsyth Tech with the addition of its new educational center in our urban research park,” said Innovation Quarter President Eric Tomlinson, D.Sc., Ph.D. “Innovation Quarter is an important incubator for the great ideas of tomorrow housing remarkable scientists, researchers and evolving companies that will provide a rich learning environment and unique career opportunities for Forsyth Tech students and graduates.”

 

Forsyth Tech’s new educational facility joins the recently announced Express YMCA as the second tenant planned for Innovation Quarter’s 525@Vine building. The former “90 series” R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company building, now owned by Wexford Science & Technology of Baltimore, is currently undergoing a renovation that is scheduled for completion beginning in early 2014. Wexford’s development investments in Innovation Quarter and Winston-Salem will total more than $250 million by the end of 2014 fueling a broad revitalization of the city’s downtown and supporting a new economy driven by innovation in biomedical science and information technology.

“The strategic placement of our Center for Emerging Technologies in Innovation Quarter enables us to immerse our students in a true landscape of the developing industries they are studying. The benefits provided by that proximity are boundless,” added Green.

Edited October 21, 2013 by zalo

[zalo]

Here's a link to the WFDD interview regarding what's in store at the Innovation Quarter. It is mind blowing to realize that this section of downtown Winston-Salem is considered currently one of the biggest economic development projects in the entire country! Eric Tomlinson is President the Innovation Quarter. He says more than $500 million will be invested in the project by the end of 2014. “When you add it all up together, by the end of 2014, we expect there to be about 2,800 people working in Innovation Quarter, compared to about 1,000 today. We expect there to be in addition about 2,200 accommodation units in and around this research park, so that means a town, a community suddenly is developing within downtown Winston-Salem,” says Tomlinson.

 

Dr. John McConnell is the CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He explains how the hospital is using the site to help spur economic growth in the region.

“Right behind my left shoulder is the Dean building, which houses Dr. Atala’s world class Regenerative Medicine Institute. On the other side of Innovation Quarter in the old R.J Reynolds buildings. We have opened one new research building that houses biomedical engineering, microbiology, immunology and other research programs. We are constructing the next facility after that and our world class public health science division will be moving downtown along with our public science division,” says McConnell.

 

Innovation Quarter will eventually become a destination, with a park and Greenway. The Greenway would link with the Salem Connector and Salem Lake.  Overall, Innovation Quarter has 140 developable acres. Tomlinson says only about one-sixth will be completed by the end of next year.

http://wfdd.org/post/one-biggest-economic-development-projects-country-taking-place-winston-salem

Edited November 2, 2013 by zalo

[zalo]

FROM THE WSJ:

 

Bringing an Australian “green” perspective to U.S. environmental and economic development is the goal of Global Future Solutions US LLC.

The company has developed naturally derived alternatives – antibiotic, antibacterial sanitizers and enzyme products – for replacing the use of toxic chemicals in a wide range of industries.

Global, founded in 2009, entered the U.S. marketplace in 2011 by opening an operation at 101 N. Chestnut St., Suite 101, in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter.

Global already has built a Triad workforce of 28, counting 23 employees at its local office and five employees at a pilot production operation in High Point. The Winston-Salem operations coordinate all testing, research and development, quality control and manufacturing for the Western Hemisphere.

The company’s most ambitious project to date is providing probiotic chemicals to oil and gas companies involved in fracking. The chemicals help negate the need for toxic biocides with the deep underground wells involved in fracking.

Other products are designed to reduce the amount of ammonia produced at poultry farms; reduce the exposure risk of MRSA staph infections in public settings; and promote better nutrition, weight loss and physical strengthening regimens. Winston-Salem was chosen for GFS research and development, and for manufacturing for its geographic location on the East Coast and economical operational costs compared to Australia, with access to a host of well-trained potential employees. Global has two flagship products: GFS BioProtect, an oil and gas biocide replacement product; and GFS BioProtect Poultry Protect, used in the poultry industry to reduce ammonia and pathogenic microbe populations. To date, these two products have gained acceptance in some 18 countries globally and demand is growing by the day; unfortunately, there have been no sales locally or in the United States. Products that are successfully selling in the U.S. are our GFS BioProtect Clean & Seal and our alcohol-free hand sanitizers. Noteworthy customers include the NFL, which uses these products to combat MRSA to great effect. There are no sales of any GFS products locally or in North Carolina. All four products are manufactured by GFS in North Carolina.

[zalo]

From Fox 8 News' Neill McNeill, "In all the talk about urban redevelopment in the Piedmont Triad, nothing stands out quite like what's happening in downtown Winston-Salem."

 

http://myfox8.com/2013/11/19/increased-development-at-wake-forest-innovation-quarter/