Wake Forest Innovation Quarer

The Piedmont Triad Research Park has been re-branded:  Wake Forest Innovation Quarter (this is a link to the new website.) Distilled from talking heads, the idea behind the re-branding seems to be 1) distinguish its from Research Triangle Park (PTRP v. RTP), 2) to leverage Wake Forest's brand, and 3) broaden appeal away from biotech to include IT and other high-tech industries.

Other Articles on the New Quarter:
 - The Winston-Salem Journal
 - The Triad Business Journal
 - Press Release from Wake Health

Inmar Moving Downtown!

 

Since Inmar announced in April that it would stay in Winston-Salem, there has been speculation:  would they renovate and add on to their existing headquarters or would they move downtown to the Piedmont Triad Research Park or the GMAC building? On July 31st, the company announced that their new corporate headquarters would be in two former Reynolds buildings, 90-3 and 90-1A, in the North District of the PTRP. The buildings, located at the southeastern corner of Seventh and Vine Streets are owned and will be renovated by Wexford Science and Technology LLC, the company which did that did such a fabulous job on Wake Forest Biotech Place. According to the press release, the buildings are 51 years old and contain 240,000 sq.ft.  The project will be LEED certified and will preserve the historic character of the buildings; it is scheduled to be completed in 17 months - December 2013. Click here for a Google Maps Street view perspective of the buildings as they currently stand. 

PTRP Names New Head

Eric Tomlinson has been named both President and Chief Innovation Officer of the Piedmont Triad Research Park.  According to information from other sources reporting on Mr. Tomlinson appointment, such as the Winston-Salem Journal, the News Release from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and the Triad Biz Journal, Mr. Tomlinson is an experienced scientist and CEO with a special emphasis on bringing new products to market and will accordingly oversee all research and commercialization efforts.

Ground Broken on Center for Design Innovation

 

The ground was broken on the 4-acre parcel in the South District of the Piedmont Triad Research Park that was purchased for the Center in 2011 by the UNC system.  The parcel, which is south of Business-40 is nestled between Salem College and Winston-Salem State University.  It is hoped that in time the downtown area and the Piedmont Triad Research Park will seamlessly meld into the campuses of both schools.

According to the press release on The Center for Design Innovation's website, the 27,000 sq.-ft. facility is "specially equipped for rapid prototyping, motion capture, electronic textiles, mobile networking and more."  The new facility is estimated to cost $8 million and is scheduled to open in 2013.  It is a joint venture between Winston-Salem State University, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and Forsyth Tech.

W-S 2nd Most Digitalized City by Size; Rana Loca's New Look; Wake Forest Biotech Place Update

 
In the 2011 results of its 10th Anniversary Digital Cities Survey, the Center for Digital Government  found Winston-Salem to be the 2nd most digitalized for cities with a population between 125,000 and 249,000.  According to their website, "[t]he survey focused on results achieved by cities, via the use of technology, in operating efficiencies and realizing strategic objectives despite current fiscal constraints."

Rana Loca, the popular 4th Street restaurant, will be closing; its owners will be opening Encore! in the same space with a menu catering to a wider, more American taste.

Finally, work on Building 91 of Piedmont Triad Research Park has been completed and will open next month as Wake Forest Biotech Place.  Pictures of the renovations can be found here.

2-Story H&M Opens at Mall, Tengion Consolidates R&D, Caterpillar Plant's Grand Opening

 

H&M, the popular European (Swedish) retailer which sells popular fashions at reasonable rates, opened its second store in North Carolina at Hanes Mall on Thursday, November 17th.  The first H&M store opened in Raleigh in March 2010.

Financial struggles have forced Tengion, the PA-based regenerative medicine company that commercializes Dr. Anthony Atala's research, to cut its workforce by 58% (30 employees).  On the bright side for Winston-Salem, it is also consolidating R&D here at its space in the Piedmont Triad Research Park.

Finally, Caterpillar celebrated its grand opening of the Winston-Salem plant on Wednesday, November 16th.  The plant won't reach full capacity until 2014.  Pictures of the event - and the inside of the plant - can be found here from the Triad Business Journal.