I finally posted this thread. A month after taking the photographs! I apologize for taking so long after hearing requests for construction updates. I didn't visit every construction site, but visited several new sites and a few favorite construction sites.
Winston-Salem has a city population of 240,000 in a metro area of about 650,000. The city's economy is healthcare, aerospace, banking/insurance, technology & research. It is located in the Yadkin River Valley, which is North Carolina's wine country. This city also is known for arts & culture and markets itself as The City of Arts & Innovation. Winston-Salem has the most workers employed in the arts in the state and it's arts groups record the most arts revenues in the state. The city is home to the 7th best art university in the world, as well as the state's high school for gifted artists and the governor's school for the state's smartest students. You will also find Wake Forest University here, which is a major private university with a massive endowment. Now for the tour:
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I can't think of a more dramatic building to open this thread. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is currently studying converting this building into a luxury hotel with condos. The 23 storey art deco tower was designed by the famous architectural firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon.
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Camel City Goods is a clothing and accessories store with Winston-Salem branded merchandise. Many popular older cities with strong industrial character seem to have a store like this.
The colorful building reflected in the windows below was once Colonial Revival rowhouses, but was converted into storefronts. Another building on this street was converted from Tudor Revival rowhouses into a flooring store. I didn't go that far down the street though (out of time on this trip!).
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I love this poster. Titans of Industry! In the early 1900s, everything from early air conditioners to steel was made in Winston-Salem. Unfortunately, manufacturing is no longer a major employment sector. Winston-Salem's second largest medical center employs more people than all of the metro area's manufacturers combined. Old factories are now trendy condos or converted into office space.
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I wanted a Winston-Salem T-shirt and one of the "Home of the Original Empire State Building" posters, but didn't have time for a return visit on the trip. I can order online though.
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This building was originally a grocery store in 1890. It was clad in Formstone in the late 1950s. The advertisements on the side of the building are original and were preserved by the Formstone. They were rediscovered during the building's restoration by a graphic design company. It houses their offices and two retail spaces.
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Max Keen is a men's clothing store and sells accessories for man caves. I was happy to see 'Fancy Groceries' added to their storefront window, in memory of the original tenant. Winston-Salem's downtown seemed to have a large number of clothing stores. Three in a row in this area alone! Yes, the Pepsi ad is original and was hidden under Formstone.
I've seen a good amount of debate over removing Formstone or preserving it as part of the building. Removing it was the right choice for this building!
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This ad is from 1957 and is original. The product was named for a TV show called Hit Parade and became the show's sponsor for two or three years. Naming it for the popular TV show didn't make the new cigarettes as popular as expected. Hit Parade Cigarettes were discontinued in 1958, after only two or three years. The advertisement was preserved when the window was covered and clad with Formstone.
• Video Link
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Did You Know: The plastic flamingo was designed by Donald Featherstone, an artist at Union Products, in 1957.
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If you're a beer lover, this store is for you! City Beverage has one of the largest selections of craft beer and wine in the southeast. If there's an unusual craft beer you're looking for, this store has it. They also sell home brewing supplies, so you can make your own beer! You can attend events to learn more about brewing your own beer or attend this store's beer festivals to try new beers. It's a 'wow, is this a dream?' type of store for beer lovers.
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This is the transition area between the West End and downtown. Some people call the entire area The West End Village, after a development on the Modern site. The house structures are duplexes and rowhouses converted to businesses. The West End was a wealthy tourist resort, built by railroads, with financial backing from Thomas Edison, Frank Sprague, Harvey Firestone, and many others. Sprague's involvement explains how Winston-Salem became one of the first cities with his electric streetcar. The centerpiece was a large New England shingle-style hotel, designed by Boston architects Wheelwright & Haven in 1889. It was once the largest hotel in the southeast. Newer construction law offices are on the site today, but the stairs to the hotel and the park where the streetcars turned-around are still there.
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Why do hipsters love lumberjacks?
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You can watch batting practice from the East-West Expressway (it's under the concourse bridge!) and see inside the ballpark, during games. This ballpark, designed by 360 Architecture, won the 2010 Ballpark of the Year award and a 2011 Brick in Architecture Award. Winston-Salem was ranked the 22nd best minor league market in the United States and best minor league market in North Carolina, by Street & Smith's.
Construction Site: Link Apartments by Grubb Properties.
This is one of the larger upscale residential developments. 205 apartments above a multi-level underground parking deck with electric car charging stations. It's located across the street from the city's ballpark. It will become viewable from inside the ballpark and will tower over it in views from the expressway.
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Workers are clearing the property and grading it. If I can, I'll try to visit Winston-Salem again later this year to take photographs of the crane and structural work. It should be out-of-the-ground in a few months.
In downtown Winston-Salem, they can't build apartments fast enough to meet demand and yes, because of this, they are often expensive. Around 1,200 apartment units are under construction or about to start construction in Winston-Salem's downtown this year. Most of them will enter the market in 2014. Downtown Winston-Salem's apartment vacancy rate is only 5%. The lowest in North Carolina.
Yes, most of the 12 county Triad area's apartment construction is in downtown Winston-Salem and with a good reason. They fill as soon as they open in Winston-Salem's downtown.
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The 20-storey 1926 building in this photograph above is also apartments.
It was the state's tallest building until the building in the first photograph of this thread was built. I really should photograph that part of the city (where the skyscrapers are) on a future trip.
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The tall skyscraper on the right, in the image above, was designed by the famous Los Angeles based architectural firm Welton Becket Associates. The massive Neo Gothic structure, in the middle, is the work of famous architect Bertram Goodhue's firm. The 1920s building on the left is apartments, but you could've guessed that. This is an area Winston-Salem threads rarely visit! And we are here to see construction (see below)!
Construction Site: First Horizon Bank - North Carolina Headquarters
Since Winston-Salem's research park is in downtown and the research park buildings are often fully leased, many research & technology companies will select space in downtown's highrises. Because of this, the vacancy rate for Class A office space in Winston-Salem's downtown is only 4%! This building will allow First Horizon to add their logo to the skyline, which I think they wanted to do, but couldn't at their old location. If your interested in leasing this build too, you can call (336) 793-0890 Ext. 101 They are also about to propose another building across the street.
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I'll try to return later this year to take a photograph of the crane and steel rising on the skyline.
Demolition is complete, the construction trailer is on site, and when I was there it was in excavation. I've heard Merrill Lynch, National General Insurance, and First Horizon connected with this project.
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Remember when I said another office building was proposed across the street? It's proposed for the site where the historical marker (above) is. I think if the former governor was still here today, he would love to see an office tower on his former home site. Again, if you're interested in office space, call (336) 793-0890 Ext. 101 The larger and more tenants interested, the more floors the building will have. These sites have ballpark visibility and expressway visibility for your company name/logo.
Quote:
Although Robert Glenn was known primarily as the “prohibition governor,” under his watch the state’s construction bonds were paid off, lynching was eliminated, and he sought increased funds for public health. Upon leaving the office of the governor in 1909, Glenn returned to his legal practice in Winston-Salem. In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson appointed him to serve on the International Boundary Commission.
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Source: NC History Project
He was too liberal to win reelection and the people he helped convict of lynching were pardoned by the next elected governor.
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I want to visit the east side of downtown to see some of my favorite construction sites.
Construction Site: Bioinformatics Headquarters
Winston-Salem loves adaptive reuse and this is one of my favorite adaptive reuse projects. From what I can tell, this is a cloud and software related operation with around 300 employees? I think an area college is also interested in leasing 100,000 square feet in this building for first and second year biotech classes. California based BioMed Realty Trust is working on this project and will announce three additional tenants for the space soon.
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Did You Know: CHA Health in South Korea is now taking part in the regenerative medicine research performed in downtown Winston-Salem's IQ District. CHA has numerous clinical trials underway using various stem cell therapies. CHA could become a major employer in the IQ District and it seems a new building is expected soon from this.
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I apologize for not photographing the National Center for Design Innovation. Their massive building is under construction in downtown's IQ District and is funded through the National Science Foundation. The person overseeing programs at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is the person who started the center and she said RISD is also working with the center in Winston-Salem. Construction workers were grading the site, with a sign at the corner, but it was a difficult site to access? This is another project that should be out-of-the-ground by my next visit!
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An $8 million High Line inspired project with walking paths, separate bike lanes for bicycle commuting and rail lines for 'future' light rail transit (LRT), is proposed on an elevated rail line behind this building. It will connect U.S. Bicycle Route 80 to the main bike routes in the core of the city.
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This area of downtown is known as the IQ District. It's being called world class (a favorite word on these forums
) by publications and even some site selectors. Other cities are actually touring this district to learn how they can recreate it in their cities. Thousands of new science and technology jobs are being created in this part of downtown each year. This is the world's leading center for regenerative medicine research. The amount of square footage under construction doubles every year.
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Carolina Liquid Chemistries' headquarters is on the right (image above), in the renovated mid-century modern structure. Vice President Joe Biden spoke in their massive atrium last year.
Construction Site: Inmar Headquarters
Inmar operates intelligent commerce networks. The company managed 3.5 billion commerce transactions in the U.S. and Canada last year! This is one of Winston-Salem's major headquarters. When this building opens, in January 2014, it will have nearly 1,000 employees. Almost all of them IT workers. If you work in Information Technology and you need a job, move to Winston-Salem. There are several employers hiring all the time in the IT field and they pay very well. Inmar alone hires hundreds of IT workers each year. IT workers and engineers are always in demand in Winston-Salem.
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Inmar's new headquarters is actually old. It was built in 1957 as manufacturing space. It's a great mid-century modern structure and another great adaptive reuse project in downtown's IQ District. I'm not sure exactly who the architect is? I do know it begins with a G. Gensler?
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Winston-Salem has some very interesting and challenging terrain. Wouldn't you love to peddle a bike up this hill.
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Cesar Pelli's Wells Fargo Center is the tallest at 34 storeys and a nice reflection. It was built as the headquarters for Wachovia National Bank. The financial district also has an award winning design by Pickard Chilton (Republic Mutual Insurance HQ) that has a massive wood and marble atrium with palm trees. Chilton designed it so the main entrance is on the bicycle path network and not the road. I should photograph that area sometime. A skyscraper forum is likely more interested in that area.
Construction Site: Bailey Power Plant
Baltimore based Cross Creek Partners is looking for a renovation partner to help them transform the old power plant into a museum, urban grocery store, move theatre, bowling alley, retail space, the Turbine Hall convention space, an innovation center, and flexible office space. That is one big building! They are designing it to LEED Gold standards. It looks dramatically different than when we last viewed it in December. Demolition is complete and work is now ready to move to the inside. Cross Creek said it will be completed in January 2015. This is Bill Struever's prized adaptive reuse project. He has completely transformed his home town of Baltimore and would like to do the same in Winston-Salem. You know you want to lease in this awesome building. Call (336) 926-1411 for retail or office leasing information. This is the building I would love to have an office in!
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This power plant once provided electricity and steam to all of downtown, including the office towers!
Source:
Cross Creek Partners
The rendering above shows how the power plant will look when construction work is completed in 2015.
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A bakery for dogs was about to open in one of these retail spaces. I'm guessing it's open now. I would love to ask business owners in this block what they think of the Bailey Power Plant construction project, which is closing roads. Construction workers also haven't finished removing the utility poles or planting the trees on their block. Centennial Trading Company is actually doing very well, in this construction filled location, though and has raised money (kickstarter) to start their own clothing line for their hipster customers.
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The two tall smokestacks could become the world's largest kaleidoscopes. Scott Cole, who has made kaleidoscopes seen in galleries and museums around the world, has visited and is estimating the cost.
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The Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine. One of the world's few buildings with a hole in it. Someone pointed this (hole in the building) out to me recently. Winston-Salem is the world's leading center for regenerative medicine. This science research center attracts tens of millions in federal funding and millions in state funding every year.
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I wanted to visit one of the hold-outs. This building is actually located between two of the most desirable districts in Winston-Salem for condos and offices. It's one of the more interesting buildings, yet the owner won't sell it. In its present state, it's an interesting building. Let's have a look around it!
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Someone walking by stopped and said it was like a museum. As if the store owner just locked the door a few decades ago and never came back. I've never seen the store open. I guess it's, as he said, a museum. I would prefer to see it as condos/apartments with an opened art gallery or retailer on the ground floor, instead of a closed-up museum.
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The construction site is a restaurant that will be named Mission Pizza Napoletana and hair salon. Both buildings were built in 1922.
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Lucky Strike's building was once a popular gay dance club in the 1990s called The Satellite Club. It was well-known for it's space travel mural. Unfortunately, the mural was faded, after around 20 years. It was great to see this mural added to the wall, after they painted over the original mural. Though it really doesn't compare to the entire wall mural from the 1990s.
Do I have a photograph of it? Of course I do! (see the original Satellite Club mural below)
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I took the photograph above in 2004 of the Satellite Club mural. Notice how much larger it is. You can look for the square window to see where the newer mural is located.
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According to Cross Creek Partners, there are 15,000 residential units downtown.
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Everything is now leasing! Notice the steep terrain. Winston-Salem has the most interesting terrain of North Carolina's five largest cities. When the streetcar is completed, it should be fun riding on streets like these.
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One of my favorites (above) from the trip.
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The flag pole destroyed the photograph above.
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Construction Site: Mast General Store & Apartments by U.S. Development
Mast General Store dates back to 1883. They are a mountain outfitter (things for hiking, cave exploration, mountain climbing, river sports, etc.) and have stores in touristy cities around the mountains. It's a fun store to visit, with many unique items and a very historic feel. You can find everything you need to hike the Appalachian Trail or you can find your favorite 'Life Is Good' T-shirts here. They searched for a good location in downtown Winston-Salem for the past 8 years before buying the former Brown Rogers Dixon Hardware Store this year. It's a 'T' shaped building, with store entrances on three different streets, so it's significantly larger than it appears. The upper floors will contain 45 apartments. Apartment hunters can fight over them next summer and these will go fast. This is the most desirable neighborhood in the entire metro area.
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A rendering, below, of what the finished building will look like.
Source:
David Gall
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I would love to see someone ride that bicycle! I think that is the most unusual bike I've seen anywhere.
The bike above shows the shortage of bike racks in the downtown area. With the growth in popularity of cycling, Winston-Salem recently announced plans to install 125 additional bicycle racks in the downtown area and construct 10 additional miles of bicycle-only lanes. You should see the creative bike racks along Fourth Street. I didn't photograph that area on this trip.
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Who said bicycles with engines are unpopular in the United States? I saw several of them on this trip. With the terrain in Winston-Salem, a small assist engine is a good idea.
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Above you will see the former A&P Grocery Store renovation. The owner uncovered the windows and removed the paint from the brickwork. I think he had to add new windows as well? I'm guessing the upper floors will become apartments. If you're interested in a storefront, this is a really nice store space.
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This building (above) was built in 1870. The top floor is all apartments. Sweet Potatoes is one of my favorite restaurants in Winston-Salem and I recommend it. The locksmith is one of the oldest tenants on the street.
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Festival City? Winston-Salem has a variety of street festivals & events. The week before my visit, the city held a Japanese animation festival. The next week....pole vaulting in the streets. Last week was the National Black Theatre Festival. During the week, an event called b/Eats is held for office workers on lunch break, with food trucks and DJs. Downtown also has the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic USA Cycling event, with some of the world's top cyclists. Some of the larger events/festivals can attract tens of thousands of people to the downtown area and a few are covered in the national media.
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IMG College is one of Winston-Salem's major headquarters. The $3.5 billion company employs around 750 people and handles the licensing for NCAA events and the NCAA itself. They also sell tickets, advertising, and they make the broadcasts you see and hear for over 50 college teams on TV and radio. You've likely heard the name IMG College credited at the end of the game you watched. They may appear on your video games as well. This is the headquarters and their main studio. From the sidewalk, looking-into the windows, you can actually watch live interviews with players and watch the radio announcers, as they view the game on monitors. They also edit the video for playback and work on social media in this building. The building is designed with a basketball court for a lobby and broadcast studios fronting the sidewalk. The top of the building is.. yes, luxury condos.
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If you like sports, the Winston-Salem Open ATP World Tour tennis event is August 18th. It attracts many of the world's top ranked tennis players.
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I think this year is the 75th anniversary of Superman?
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