Project
Hub RTP
Hub RTP is a groundbreaking 40-acre transformative mixed-use development project situated in the heart of Research Triangle Park (RTP), one of the most prestigious research and innovation hubs in the United States. This ambitious project is set to redefine the landscape of RTP, a region that has long been synonymous with cutting-edge technology, research and development. However, for over 50 years, RTP’s zoning regulations had restricted the development of retail, hotel and residential spaces, focusing primarily on research and industrial uses. The Hub RTP project marks a significant departure from this tradition, introducing a vibrant blend of amenities designed to attract not only workers but also residents and visitors who seek a dynamic and integrated community experience.
McAdams developed the initial master plan for Hub RTP and provided surveying, subsurface utility engineering (SUE), stream restoration design, flood modeling, environmental impact permitting and civil design expertise for the infrastructure development.
Central to the site lies a tributary to Burdens Creek which had been straightened and banks lined with riprap in the 1960’s providing little experiential benefit or ecological function. The opportunity to enhance the stream and establish a centralized, open-space amenity was critical in establishing Hub RTP as a desirable destination. Long-term stream stability, especially in urban environments that experience flashy stream flows, is reliant on dense riparian vegetation and associated root mass. These dense root networks provide resistance to in-channel and floodplain flows by restraining sediment. To balance stream stability with an aesthetically pleasing and safe user experience, McAdams worked closely with the landscape architect to devise a planting plan that would achieve both goals.
NC Grand Level Engineering Excellence, Site Design
American Council of Engineering Companies | Hub RTP
2025
- Location
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- RTP, NC
- Project Owner
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- Research Triangle Foundation
- Project Size
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- 40 acres
- Teaming Partners
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- Natural Resource Consultants
- Surface 678
- Kimley-Horn
- Bennett & Pless
- Clark Nexsen
- Lynch Mykins
- Contech Engineered Solutions
- RMF Engineering
- Thorburn Associates
- Vortex
- Faulconer Construction
- RES
- Services Leveraged
- Project Types
The perennial stream is regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the North Carolina Department of Water Resources (NC DWR) due to its Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) jurisdiction; Durham County for enforcement of the Jordan Lake Buffer Rules; and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for any impacts to the 1% Annual Chance Floodplain and Floodway. McAdams developed a stream enhancement and surrounding site design that complied with permit requirements of each agency.
In addition to the stream enhancement project, McAdams was also tasked with designing and obtaining permits for several other major infrastructure elements that serve Hub RTP, ensuring that future development within the greater RTP area will have a foundation in place to support ambitious growth plans. Each of these project elements came to fruition as a result of investment of public funding from Durham County.
- McAdams obtained permits for a Durham County utilities extension. This extension included approximately 10,000 linear feet of 18-inch reclaimed waterline and 3,500 linear feet of 30-inch gravity sanitary sewer.
- Durham County Utilities invested in the reclaimed waterline extension, underscoring the importance of the Hub RTP project to the broader community. The reclaimed waterline will serve Hub RTP and surrounding developments, providing a sustainable water source that aligns with the region’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
- Durham County also contributed $10,000,000 for the construction of a public parking deck on the site. This parking deck will be a crucial asset, providing much-needed parking for the influx of workers, residents and visitors who will be drawn to the area. The public deck is also a key element in the overall design of the Hub RTP, ensuring that the development is accessible and convenient for all who visit.
At full build-out, the Hub RTP project has the potential to include 1,000,000 square feet of office space, 350,000 square feet of retail space, 600 apartments and 310 hotel rooms. This diverse mix of uses will create a vibrant community within RTP, bringing the transformative vision of Research Triangle Foundation to reality. Since McAdams’ successful delivery of the infrastructure and stream enhancement project, approximately one-third of the developable parcels are under construction, another third of the parcels are in the process of obtaining permits and the final third are in the planning stages. Projects of this scale inherently require coordination of many stakeholders, project partners, design consultants and regulatory agencies for success. McAdams is proud to have worked closely with many entities in the successful delivery of the site design of Hub RTP and looks forward to the continued build-out of the project site as the ambitious vision, many years in the making, comes to life.
