Innovation and Entrepreneurship
A downtown science hub supports innovation, research, and community revitalization at the heart of Winston-Salem.
Wake Downtown Science Building
Winston-Salem, NC
Wake Forest University is a national leader in research and education with a growing commitment to urban engagement and innovation. The university envisioned a new academic facility to bring science, entrepreneurship, and community connection to the city’s core as part of a broader downtown revitalization initiative.
To realize that vision, Wake Forest repurposed a historic tobacco warehouse—known as Building 60 South—into a dynamic, state-of-the-art science facility. The goal was to expand the university’s research footprint while preserving the building’s character and history.
The 115,300-square-foot renovation includes teaching laboratories, classrooms, research spaces, and shell space for future growth. The design team worked closely with university leadership to accommodate both new and existing specialized equipment, ensuring the building could support a range of scientific disciplines and research initiatives.
This adaptive reuse project supports Wake Forest’s mission to foster innovation and community engagement while breathing new life into a historic downtown structure.
The result is a modern academic facility that bridges past and future—positioning Wake Downtown as a catalyst for scientific discovery and urban transformation.
