North Carolina Research Campus Announced

Two years ago, Kannapolis, N.C., was reeling from the announcement that Pillowtex Corp, a major textile manufacturer, was filing for bankruptcy. Pillowtex's failure resulted in more than 4,500 jobs lost in just two North Carolina counties and thousands more in the Southeast U.S.

The mood had to have been better last week with an announcement by billionaire David Murdock, owner of Dole Food Company, and Molly Corbett Broad, president of the University of North Carolina system, of plans to create the North Carolina Research Campus on 250 acres at the former Cannon Mills plant and 100 acres of downtown Kannapolis. Press reports put the total investment in the complex at a billion dollars with more than one million square feet of office and laboratory space.

Plans are to turn the campus into a home for more than 100 biotechnology companies with "the most state-of-the-art laboratory space in the nation," according to a press release. The initial 330,000 square foot building will house the Core Laboratory facility, a contract manufacturing biogenic facility, the Dole Research Institute, temporary facilities for university research institutes, and more than 75,000 square feet of multi-tenant space. The Core Laboratory will be available for use by all companies located on the campus and will contain a DNA sequencing facility, micro-array facilities, and mass spectrometry facilities. The Dole Research Institute will focus on research on nutrition and fruits and vegetables.

The campus will also be home to a new private high school for girls from across the country in their junior and senior years who have excelled in math and science. Discussions are underway with the North Carolina Community College System for a 40,000 square foot building that will focus on the education and training for biotechnology jobs.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Murdock will spend $100 million of his own money for a venture capital fund to help companies get established at the campus. The project will also include 350,000 square feet of new retail space and about 700 residences.

Murdock owned the mills in the 1980s and repurchased them at auction last year. The 82-year old Murdock was quoted in the Observer as saying,"This is the most exciting day, I guess I have to say, of my entire life."