North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Construction crews have placed the final steel beam atop Wake Forest University’s future office building at The Grounds, marking a major milestone for both the project and the broader transformation of the Deacon Boulevard corridor.
The topping-out ceremony comes less than a month after another significant construction milestone at The Grounds, where a student housing development also reached its highest point. Together, the projects signal continued momentum for the 100-acre mixed-use district taking shape around some of Winston-Salem’s most prominent entertainment and athletic venues.
“We’re proud to build alongside Carter, Front Street Capital, Wake Forest University, NELSON Worldwide, and our many trade partners as this vision continues to rise,” Brasfield & Gorrie said in announcing the milestone.
The five-story office building, scheduled for completion in 2027, will house approximately 400 Wake Forest employees and serve as a new administrative hub for several university departments. Planned occupants include Financial Services, Human Resources, Information Systems, the Legal Department, Audit and Compliance Services, University Advancement, and University Marketing and Communications.
University leaders celebrated the milestone with a luncheon at Bridger Field House at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium before gathering at the construction site to mark the placement of the final beam.
“This place will be a hub of great energy, excitement and collaborative work,” said Jackie Travisano, Wake Forest’s executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente described the project as another important step in the evolution of The Grounds, a public-private development partnership involving Wake Forest University, Carter, Front Street Capital and the City of Winston-Salem.
Designed as a year-round destination, The Grounds will combine office space, residential housing, retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, walking trails and public gathering spaces into a single community district. Developers say the project is intended to bring new activity and investment to the Deacon Boulevard area while creating stronger connections between the university, surrounding neighborhoods and major event venues.
Representatives from development partners Carter and Front Street Capital joined university officials at the event, highlighting recent progress across the district. Earlier this year, developers broke ground on Creekside at The Grounds, the project’s first residential community, and completed the reconfiguration of Deacon Boulevard.
With the building’s steel structure now complete, construction will continue on the office building’s exterior and interior systems over the coming months as crews work toward its anticipated 2027 opening.