Capability Drive. Partners Way. Achievement Drive. Even the street names on Centennial Campus suggest big things are happening.
However, what exactly goes on in this state-of-the-art research park is unclear to many students, especially those not majoring in textiles or engineering Ñ the two main colleges housed on the campus.
Centennial Campus, which celebrated its 20 year anniversary in 2004, remains a mystery to main campus students like Megan Justice.
“My life consists of walking from Winston to Harrelson, with the occasional visit to Poe,” Justice, a junior in communication and history, said. “The only time I’ve been to Centennial Campus was freshman year when I got on the wrong Wolfline bus.”
Although universities across the country have research parks affiliated with their schools, Centennial Campus is unique in three ways, according to Amy Lubas, Centennial Campus partnership developer.
“With over 1,300 acres, the campus is much larger than other parks,” Lubas said. “In addition, we are fully a part of N.C. State and right across the street from the main campus. In some cases, you will find a University’s research park as far as 20 miles away.”
While they seem like the minority, close to 3,400 students take class, research and intern on the campus. Close to 100 government and corporate partners such as Red Hat, the USDA Forest Service and WebAssign, also have a presence on the campus.
For a business to exist on Centennial, it must have a relationship with the University, Lubas said.
“Whether it hires students as interns or employees or works with faculty on research, a business must contribute something to the school,” Lubas said.
There aren’t many reasons for students to make the trip to Centennial Campus if they’re not taking class or working at one of the businesses. But that’s about to change.
In early June, the University will open a fishing pier on Lake Raleigh, situated on the campus.
The lake will also be opened for non-motorized boats, Lubas said.
A golf course is also slated as a new addition, which will be open to the public and serve as the golf team’s home course.
Other projects include opening another Port City Java, adding greenway trails to connect into the city’s current walkways and even building a library to rival D.H. Hill, according to Lubas.
“Our ultimate goal is to create a town center with restaurants, shops and even loft apartments,” Lubas said.
According to Lubas, some believe the University is sinking money into the project as tuition rises and other majors are stuffed into windowless and overcrowded classrooms on the main campus.
She said Centennial staff is doing all it can to fight those misconceptions.
“Some people have the misconception that students on Centennial think they are ‘better’ than other State students, but we’re not — we’re just the lucky ones with new buildings,” Ian Raulston, a senior in Textiles Management, said.
Lubas agreed that right now, the benefits may appear abstract to students not tied to the campus through class or work.