Research Triangle Park unveils new master plan

Friday, November 09, 2012

Tags:

research triangle park, local/state

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The Research Triangle Foundation, which manages Research Triangle Park, announced a new master plan for the park Friday.

Officials said the plan gives RTP a more urban design that's intended to "attract a new generation of entrepreneurs and creative employees."

"Companies and employees today want an environment and an experience that encourages collaboration and creativity. Our new Master Plan is designed to do just that," offered Bob Geolas, President and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation in a statement.

Since RTP launched over 50 years ago, it has become the site of more than 170 companies -- like GlaxoSmithKline, Cisco, and Lenovo.

Officials said the thousands of employees in the area "expect amenities and opportunities to connect and share ideas in a socially dynamic setting."

The new master plan calls for a transformation of the Park's 7,000 acres into an innovative design that is more sustainable than the current model, according to officials.

It addresses access and land use issues and proposes adding more housing and shops, along with links to future transit.

The Research Triangle Foundation also announced the plan for a statewide bus tour aimed at redeveloping the Park.

"Pathways to Opportunity," tour will start Nov. 13 after a kickoff luncheon at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. The Research Triangle Foundation will visit more than two dozen locations around the state, including community colleges and universities.

"We want to reaffirm the Park's founding mission, which is to serve all of North Carolina," Geolas said. "We should begin that process by getting around the state, meeting with people and hearing about the challenges and opportunities they face."

The tentative schedule for the bus tour is:

The work could take a few years to complete. Although the project developer says he hopes to start work within the next year to 18 months.