Innovation Quarter today announced the beginning of horizontal infrastructure work associated with its second phase of development. Facilitated through Innovation Quarter’s infrastructure development partner Wexford Science & Technology through general contractor The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company and civil engineering and landscape architecture contractor Stimmel Associates, the work includes laying of fiber and electrical conduit, site grading, installation of lighting and trees, streetscaping and an almost half-mile extension of the Long Branch Trail.
The 28-acre site for Innovation Quarter Phase II sits on either side of Research Parkway, the majority of which is south of Third Street and north of Salem Parkway. Upon completion, it is anticipated that the development will allow for an additional 1 million additional square feet of clinical, lab and office space.
The Innovation Quarter was awarded $8.9 million towards infrastructure development under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. The grant agreements are executed between the Innovation Quarter and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“This first and vital step in the development of the next phase of Innovation Quarter is another signal of the growth and vibrancy happening here,” said Jason Kaplan, who leads planning, design and operations for Innovation Quarter. “The improvements we are beginning today will lay the foundation for a whole new era of excitement for downtown Winston-Salem.”
Infrastructure improvements will include:
- 2,270 linear feet of Long Branch Trail greenway expansion
- 140 new trees planted
- 131 new street lights
- 46,830 feet of new electrical and fiber conduit
- 10,000 dump truck loads of dirt relocated for site grading
“Phase II of the Innovation Quarter represents tremendous opportunity for capital investment and job creation,” says Mark Owens, President and CEO of Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. “The new development is poised to complement the existing growth of key industry sectors in biotech and life science, research and development, startups, and more. Having this infrastructure in place is critical in giving a green light to companies looking to invest here—we’re ready to welcome them.”
Innovation Quarter and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, have worked closely with ACCESS Center for Equity + Success to ensure participation from MWBE (Minority-/Women-owned Business Enterprise) trade partners. Through this partnership, Innovation Quarter Phase II infrastructure development is projected to have 26% MBE and 10% WBE participation based on the value of awarded and soon to be awarded contracts, which exceeds standard state and federal thresholds.
Innovation Quarter is home to the largest historic redevelopment project in the history of the state of North Carolina, according to Preservation NC, a statewide non-profit dedicated to historic preservation. Earlier this year, an report showed the Innovation Quarter’s total economic impact on Winston-Salem and the surrounding region to be $1.6 billion in 2022.
