The future takes shape
Located in downtown Durham, North Carolina, Carolina Research Square is a new 10-acre mixed-use development with lab, office, residential, retail, and open space designed to honor the community’s past and build towards its future.
Carolina Research Square is the first urban purpose-built, multi-story life sciences building in the fourth-largest life sciences cluster in the country.
Site Plan
Built over three phases beginning in 2025, Carolina Research Square will be a bridge to what’s next
Site design is reflective of Durham history, while strategic programming and an emphasis on the public realm cultivate innovation for all. The campus provides branding opportunities for company growth and walk-to-work alternatives for employee retention, catalyzing future development.
Phase 1
2025 groundbreaking
2026 construction completion
290,825 RSF LAB
50,000 RSF outdoor plaza
17,134 RSF retail
324 residential units
970 parking spaces
3.34:1,000 RSF parking ratio
Phase 2
2026 groundbreaking
2027 construction completion
297,417 RSF LAB
4,347 RSF retail
3+:1,000 RSF parking ratio
Phase 3
2027 groundbreaking
2029 construction completion
285,332 RSF LAB
3+:1,000 RSF parking ratio
Completed Project
873,574 RSF Lab
325 Residential Units
21,481 RSF Retail
3+:1,000 RSF Parking Ratio
Neighborhood
Connection becomes community
Through collaborations with residents and community stakeholders, Carolina Research Square seeks to build upon the breakthroughs that came before.
5 min
to Chapel Hill
7 min
to Research Triangle Park
15 min
to RDU International Airport
18 min
to Morrisville
20 min
to Downtown Raleigh
Join an ecosystem of
Research, talent, and connection
Raleigh-Durham has earned a well-deserved reputation as a talent mecca, drawing top talent from the area’s tier-1 universities: Duke University, NC State University, and UNC Chapel Hill, plus other nearby universities, including NC Central University and Wake Forest.
The Research Triangle Park’s biomanufacturing legacy brings a substantial workforce, supported by cutting-edge R&D from three acclaimed universities, fostering a thriving lab market. The area produces an outsized amount of intellectual property, with 2.7 patents per 1,000 people, and offers a favorable business environment, with plans for a 0% corporate tax rate by 2030.
Mingle with the nation’s innovative life sciences minds, and bump into other innovators within the amenity-rich campus. Take advantage of ample outdoor seating, green spaces, multiple terraces, and flexible conference spaces. Connect and brainstorm in the penthouse amenity lounge or stay active at the onsite fitness center.
Carolina Research Square promises to ignite discovery in the urban core of Durham. The campus is located along Highway 147, the central highway that runs through Durham and connects the site directly to I-40 and I-95. RDU International Airport, Research Triangle Park, and Downtown Raleigh are only 15-20 minutes away.
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1 / 5Lobby (Lab/Office Building)
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2 / 5Lobby (Lab/Office Building)
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3 / 5Conference Room (Lab/Office Building)
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4 / 5Fitness Center (Lab/Office Building)
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5 / 5Amenity Lounge (Lab/Office Building)
Building
Legacy looks forward
Totaling 1.2M SF of lab, office, residential, and retail space, Carolina Research Square is designed to reflect Durham history, create pedestrian-focused green spaces, and include a mix of locally owned businesses.
900,000 RSF
Development
30,000 – 40,000 RSF
Floor plates
13′ 5″
Clear height
10 Stories of Class-A
Purpose-built laboratory space
2030
Energy targets in line with UN Global Impact and 2030 goals
3.34
Parking spaces per 1,000 RSF
21,481 RSF
Retail space
LEED
Silver and Green Globe certifications
Amenity Space
Indoor and outdoor
8,000 A
Electrical service
2025
Groundbreaking
10
Air changes per hour
How will you shape
new possibilities?
Contact
Jess Brown
jbrown@sterlingbay.com
847.420.0044
Russ Cora
rcora@sterlingbay.com
312.952.0279
Eric Forshee
eric.forshee@jll.com
919.424.8176
John MacDonell
john.macdonell@jll.com
919.424.8166
Hillman Duncan
hillman.duncan@jll.com
919.424.8463
Matt Daniels
matt.daniels@jll.com
617.531.4220
Project team
A Sterling Bay and Acram Group Development
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Sterling Bay is an experience-driven real estate company that boldly transforms spaces, industries and communities across the country, sparking growth and opportunity at every turn. We build strategic relationships with leading institutions to create innovative and collaborative spaces that deliver superior performance across our core areas of expertise – office, life sciences, residential, retail, industrial and master planning. Sterling Bay’s team of more than 100 professionals is responsible for a portfolio exceeding 8.6 million square feet, and a development pipeline of more than $15 billion.
Acram Group is an entrepreneurial real estate company focused on the acquisition, development, capitalization, and management of mixed-use real estate holdings throughout the United States. The firm through its offices in Greenwich, CT, New York, NY, and Dallas, TX manages and owns a portfolio of over 4M square feet along with a development pipeline of over 5,000 multifamily units.