PACK AND PLAY At Boxyard RTP, shipping containers are full of fun WRITTEN BY AMBER KEISTER | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
TURNING INTO Research Triangle Park, sleek concrete and glass office buildings sprawl along tree-lined roads, until something catches your eye. Ahead on a slight rise is a squat collection of vibrantly hued metal boxes. The new Boxyard RTP development stands out — and not just for its unusual appearance. Instead of conventional building materials, the development was constructed from 38 repurposed shipping containers. Located at Highway 54 near T.W. Alexander Drive, Boxyard RTP is also the first restaurant and retail space inside the Park.
“We wanted to create a center of activity for RTP companies and our neighbors in the surrounding area to come together and enjoy local flavors, sounds and artwork,” said Morgan Weston, director of marketing and communications at the Research Triangle Foundation, which manages the Park. The $7-million Boxyard RTP project was conceived as a way to bring more visitors into the Park and to make the workday brighter for the office workers who were already there. It is key to the foundation’s efforts to revitalize the aging office park and compete with more urban, walkable work environments. continued on page 85
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The central, open-air common area serves as dining space for Boxyard restaurants, a spot to work remotely, and seating for musical performances.
