Research Triangle Park

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Research Triangle Park headquarters
Founded 1959
Headquarters Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

The Research Triangle Park (RTP) is the largest research park in the world.[1][2][3] It is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina. A small part of the park stretches into Wake County, but the majority of the land is in Durham County.[4]

Contents

Overview [edit]

It is one of the most prominent high-tech research and development centers in the United States. It was created in 1959[5] by state and local governments, nearby universities, and local business interests. Karl Robbins bought the land where the park is now built. The park covers 7,000 acres (2,833 ha) situated in a pine forest with 22,500,000 square feet (2,090,318 m2) of built space.[1] The park is adjacent to Interstate 40 and the Durham Freeway. It is managed by the Research Triangle Foundation, a private non-profit organization.[6]

The park is home to over 170 companies employing 42,000 workers and 10,000 contractors,[7][8] including the second largest IBM operation in the world, smaller only than the one in India; the company has around 14,000 employees in RTP.[9] The park hosts one of GlaxoSmithKline's largest R&D centers with approximately 5,000 employees.[10] Cisco Systems' campus in RTP, with approximately 4,000 employees, is the highest concentration of its employees outside of its Silicon Valley corporate headquarters.[11]

Local government [edit]

The park is an unincorporated area, and state law prohibits municipalities from annexing areas within the park,[12] Some local government functions are served by the Durham-Wake Counties Research and Production Service District, a special tax district created in 1986[13][14] that is conterminous with the park, wherein the property tax rate is limited to 10 cents per $100 valuation.[15] The park has special zoning as a Research Applications District in the Wake County portion, and a Scientific Research Park in the Durham County portion. As of October 2012, both zoning areas are in the process of being revised to allow higher density development.[16] The zoning changes are coupled with legislative changes allowing for Urban Research Service Districts (URSD) within the Park, which can include a mix of retail and residential usages.[17] These newly permitted URSDs could levy taxes at the same rate as a neighboring city.[15]

Master plan [edit]

On November 9, 2012, an update to the RTP master plan was released for the first time since the park's creation in 1959. With 39,000 employees in 22,000,000 square feet (2,000,000 m2) of office space, RTP only had 600 acres (240 ha) left under previous rules, enough for 6000 more employees and 4,000,000 square feet (370,000 m2) to be added. John Alschuler of HR&A Advisors said the new plan would allow 150,000 employees in 84,000,000 square feet (7,800,000 m2) of space. Three areas would offer new development. Triangle Commons in Durham County would have 300 acres (120 ha) to 400 acres (160 ha) and 7,000,000 square feet (650,000 m2) of office space, a hotel and conference center, a new science and technology high school and a commuter rail station. Park Center at N.C. 54 and Davis Drive, seriously underutilized, would become a business support center. Kit Creek Center in Wake County would have 850 acres (340 ha) with a commuter rail station and add 2,200,000 square feet (200,000 m2) to 3,300,000 square feet (310,000 m2) of office space.[18][19]

Companies and institutions in or near the Research Triangle Park [edit]

Universities [edit]

See also [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Research Triangle Park

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "About RTP | The Research Triangle Park". Rtp.org. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  2. ^ "Minneapolis to host annual conference of university research parks". MedCity News. 2010-08-09. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  3. ^ "Research Parks and Job Creation: Innovation Through Cooperation". .nationalacademies.org. 2009-12-09. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  4. ^ http://www.waywelivednc.com/maps/historical/rtp.pdf
  5. ^ Carolyn Sakowski, Sue Clark, Angela Harwood, Steve Kirk, Artie Sparrow, Anne Holcomb Waters (2010), Travel North Carolina: Going Native in the Old North State (4 ed.), John F. Blair, ISBN 978-0-89587-379-8, retrieved 2011-12-14 
  6. ^ Chodavadia, Parth. "Research Triangle Park develops strategy for future growth | The Chronicle". Dukechronicle.com. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  7. ^ Bracken, David (2010-09-04). "RTP begins updating its master plan | Local/State". NewsObserver.com. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  8. ^ "RTP: Research Triangle Primer". Forbes. 2012-04-18. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  9. ^ http://www-01.ibm.com/employment/us/extremeblue/location/raleigh.html
  10. ^ By WRAL Tech Wire (2011-02-16). "GSK cutting positions in RTP, nationwide -TechWire Insider :: Editor's Blog at WRAL Tech Wire". Wraltechwire.com. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  11. ^ "Cisco to slash 6,500 workers; RTP impact unknown". WRAL.com. 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  12. ^ "Could RDU do more for Durham?", Raleigh News & Observer, 13-Sept-2009, p.13A
  13. ^ http://www.durham-nc.com/resources/pdf/tourmap_drive.pdf
  14. ^ http://godoggo.org/files/maps/rtp.pdf
  15. ^ a b Choose RTP Park Life About RTP Contact Us Blog (2012-07-31). "Master Plan Update: Legislative Changes Approved". The RTP Blog. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  16. ^ Choose RTP Park Life About RTP Contact Us Blog (2012-10-03). "Master Plan Update: Zoning Gives Room to Grow". The RTP Blog. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  17. ^ Bracken, David (2012-07-16). "New RTP master plan to be unveiled this fall | Local/State". NewsObserver.com. Retrieved 2013-05-16. 
  18. ^ Bracken, David (2012-11-09). "New RTP master plan promises more density, amenities". News and Observer. Retrieved 2012-11-14. 
  19. ^ Bracken, David (2012-11-10). "New RTP master plan promises more density, amenities". News and Observer. Retrieved 2012-11-14. 
  20. ^ i-cubed.com
  21. ^ isa.org
  22. ^ netsertive.com
  23. ^ thinkrelevance.com
  24. ^ scimetrika.com

Bibliography [edit]

External links [edit]

Greater Raleigh Metropolitan Region (Raleigh-Cary MSA, part of the Research Triangle)
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Coordinates: 35°54′29″N 78°51′46″W / 35.90806°N 78.86278°W / 35.90806; -78.86278

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