Shipping containers were the prominent building material used to construct Boxyard RTP, the first public community and gathering place in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park (RTP). Designed by CallisonRTKL (CRTKL), the project is intended as a lunchtime and happy hour destination, and a venue for concerts, farmer’s markets, and other community events.
Located on a wooded lot within a grove of evergreen trees, Boxyard RTP takes advantage of the shade thrown by the dense tree coverage, and the natural features provide a contrast to the industrial look of the containers. The site is organized around a courtyard with retail, food, and beverage offerings surrounding the central open space. The courtyard is partially protected from the elements by a prefabricated metal building canopy that plays off of the containers’ industrial aesthetic.
Beneath the canopy, a container houses a stage with drop down walls on two sides, allowing flexibility for various types of events. The design of the structures makes use of the entire container materials, which increases sustainable practices and reduces project cost. The prefabricated, modular nature of the shipping containers and the minimal site disturbance required reduced the construction schedule to just nine months.
The stage facing the courtyard is intended for large music performances. Patios were created with wood decking over container roofs or offsetting stacked containers. Another stage will be used for smaller productions, allowing guests to sit on the lawn below the tree canopy. With room for up to nine restaurants, indoor/outdoor seating options, and a covered pavilion, Boxyard RTP will provide year-round dining and shopping experiences.
Food and beverage tenants will have from three to six conjoined containers. Retail tenants will have the option to have a single container or the ability to open-up two conjoined containers.
Located in the largest research park in the U.S., the Research Triangle is located between Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Access to the site is readily walkable from surrounding campuses in RTP. It has integrated parking for vehicles and access to a bus stop along Highway 54 to the project’s south.
On the building team:
Owner and/or developer: The Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina
Design architect: CRTKL
MEP engineer: Clark Nexsen
Structural engineer: Lynch Mykins Structural Engineers, PC
General contractor/construction manager: Kirkland Inc.
Related Stories
| Dec 29, 2011
GreenWizard offers cloud-based LEED credit management, assessment
The company recently began offering companies the ability to run assessments for design credits, in addition to traditional product-specific LEED credits.
| Dec 27, 2011
Clayco awarded expansion of Washington University Data Center in St. Louis
Once completed, the new building addition will double the size of the data center which houses sophisticated computer networks that store massive amounts of genomic data used to identify the genetic origins of cancer and other diseases.
| Dec 27, 2011
Ground broken for adaptive reuse project
Located on the Garden State Parkway, the master-planned project initially includes the conversion of a 114-year-old, 365,000-square-foot, six-story warehouse building into 361 loft-style apartments, and the creation of a three-level parking facility.
| Dec 27, 2011
BD+C's Under 40 Leadership Summit update
The two-day Under 40 Leadership Summit continued with a Leadership Style interactive presentation; Great Solutions presentations from Under 40 attendees; the Owner’s Perspective panel discussion; and the Blue Ocean Strategy presentation.
| Dec 27, 2011
State of the data center 2011
Advances in technology, an increased reliance on the Internet and social media as well as an increased focus on energy management initiatives have had a significant impact on the data center world.
| Dec 27, 2011
USGBC’s Center for Green Schools releases Best of Green Schools 2011
Recipient schools and regions from across the nation - from K-12 to higher education - were recognized for a variety of sustainable, cost-cutting measures, including energy conservation, record numbers of LEED certified buildings and collaborative platforms and policies to green U.S. school infrastructure.
| Dec 21, 2011
DOE report details finance options for PV systems in schools
The report examines the two primary types of ownership models used to obtain PV installations for school administrators to use in selecting the best option for deploying solar technologies in their districts.
| Dec 21, 2011
BBI key to Philly high-rise renovation
The 200,000 sf building was recently outfitted with a new HVAC system and a state-of-the-art window retrofitting system.
| Dec 20, 2011
Gluckman Mayner Architects releases design for Syracuse law building
The design reflects an organizational clarity and professional sophistication that anticipates the user experience of students, faculty, and visitors alike.
| Dec 20, 2011
Research identifies most expensive U.S. commercial real estate markets
New York City, Washington, D.C. and San Mateo, Calif., rank highest in rents.
