North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Welcome Group has broken ground on Welcome Venture Park, a 1.3 million-sq. ft. industrial campus in Durham with RW2 Development Co. as project manager.
Choate Construction, Withers Ravenel, Kimley-Horn, Maurer Architecture, Morningstar Law and S&ME are also working on the project.
The master-planned project was designed to host a wide array of businesses, including logistics, warehouse, laboratory, technology and life science users..
The business park’s first phase, expected to be completed in 2024, includes four shallow-bay/warehouse buildings totaling 392,000 sq. ft., with clear heights of 24 and 32 feet and ample parking.
The property’s design also includes outdoor green spaces and natural areas.
Located in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area, the 160-acre site is at 1225 Hamlin Rd., near Oxford Road and the future North Durham Parkway, providing easy access to Highway 70 and Interstate 85. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is some 18 miles south.
The property is 30 miles from another industrial project being built in the Triangle and also less than 14 miles from the Research Triangle Park, one of the world’s largest life science clusters. According to a recent Cushman & Wakefield report, demand for life science space in the area remained strong throughout 2022, leading to 11.8 million sq. ft. in construction projects that will add to the existing inventory of 12.8 million sq. ft.