Projects & Construction:
I want to thank the photographers and local businesses, sharing updates on projects, who make this thread possible. Without you, these updates won't happen.
I'm guessing the low elevation is the reason 200 West First is designed with a parking deck? I seem to remember old maps show a stream directly under the site, which explains why the site drops so low in that area. Some of those downtown streams and waterways are in underground culverts (part of the tunnel system). Winston-Salem is a water everywhere city.
I haven't posted a big multi-project update since September 1, so this will be a massive update and you'll see nearly seven weeks of construction progress at some sites!
• Video Link
Kaleideum Science Museum:

Credit: winstonwatchman

Credit: stitchdesignshop
Fireproofing sprayed on the steel:

Credit: bigg dog

Credit: bigg dog
Framing for the cladding:

Credit: bigg dog

Credit: kaleideum

Credit: Brayn Lewis

Credit: Zach McCraw
This is an old photograph, from August, with this quote: (the largest beam our shop has ever fabricated. A W40x593 at 58’+)

Credit: Ian Mincey (Engineered Steel Products)
WFBH Eye Institute:
The Eye Institute, planned for downtown Winston-Salem's IQ District, has now scaled-up to a 184,000 square-foot, $120 million project, with construction set to start in 2023.
500 West 5th:
Another rendering of the under construction restaurant on the ground floor:

Credit: downtowngrillews
New Headquarters:
Guidecraft is moving their corporate headquarters here from New Jersey. They expect to create around 30 new jobs in addition to the people moving here from New Jersey. Guidecraft is a toy and furniture company. Their relocation should be completed by the middle of this month. No incentives are involved.
Second Street Park & Cycling Cut-through:

Credit: City of Winston-Salem
A larger apartment building (Second & Brookstown) is proposed between the two apartment buildings in this photograph:

Credit: Wake Wagner
Concrete work seems to be completed, as of 9/6:

Credit: WFDD
Rise of the Rest:
Steve Case, who wrote the book
Rise of the Rest on the emergence of non-traditional startup cities (startup clusters outside Silicon Valley, NYC, and Boston) and has a startup fund for startups in non-traditional startup cities, has selected Winston-Salem's Unbox the Dress as one of ten "Startups to Watch." Unbox the Dress has expanded several times recently and is hiring. They have outgrown their Fourth Street office space in downtown's Restaurant Row and are now in a much larger space in Winston-Salem.
Liberty Park Sensory Garden:
The view from the park construction site:

Credit: Bryan Lewis
The Railyard:
The proposed Boxyard development is now called The Railyard. This is the proposed shipping container development with restaurants, retail, and entertainment, to be located in downtown Winston-Salem's IQ District. Maybe this will increase the chances this becomes something original/unique to downtown Winston-Salem and not a branded chain development.
Metropolitan Mixed-use:
This mixed-use project broke ground on September 22. The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity has leased space in this development and Atrium Health, one of the nation's largest health care systems, is a financial investor in the project. It includes apartments, co-working space, a startup incubator, conference space, office space, and space for a healthcare tenant. The project is being designed for entrepreneurs and remote or hybrid workers. Developer Jaron Norman of Liberty Atlantic Group said “This is about workforce empowerment, about entrepreneur empowerment, and making sure we can provide a sort of a one-stop-shop - that benefits not just the folks in the community but the businesses and the overall Innovation Quarter ecosystem (Downtown's IQ District). That is truly based on entrepreneurship and innovation.” This project continues to scale-up and is currently in talks with the City for streetscape improvements. The first phase's cost is now up to $65 million. When all phases are completed, this should be another $100+ million project, so it is a significant project. Atrium Health has not announced how much money they have invested in this mixed-use project. Pinnacle Bank is also an investor in the project. Completion of the first phase is set for April 2024. I guess we can now add this to our construction list.
Ground Breaking:

Credit: TBJ
Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity:

Credit: TBJ
Veterans Nursing Home: Built! 
The State of North Carolina has reported this project as built, so I will remove it from our list. Sadly, no completion photographs.
I looked it up on Google (this is dated last year) and it's a multi-building significant development:

Credit: GSV
I didn't know it was that big!
Merschel Park:

Credit: 146mIjFrg1I
Construction site on the right:

Credit: AeUiKco5Od8

Credit: AeUiKco5Od8
Notice the concrete forms for the kinetic sculpture's round landscaped pedestal:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Native Camel @ WSTB Forum
|
MIMEDX leases at Bailey Power Plant:
Biologics / life science company MIMEDX has signed a lease at Bailey Power Plant in downtown Winston-Salem's IQ District. They have over 800 employees and are a pioneering company in tissue engineering and want to be a part of Winston-Salem's fast growing regenerative medicine cluster.
Nationwide Marketing Headquarters:
We have an opening date for the Liberty Street storefront tenant! Cibo Trattoria will open on the ground floor, at Nationwide Marketing Headquarters, in First Quarter 2023. As the locals know, this restaurant is moving from a smaller downtown space to a much larger downtown space. If you want to know what will happen to their current space: The restaurant's owners will open a new restaurant concept in that location. Will this be the completion of this mixed-use office/retail project? I guess we shall see.
Forsyth County Courthouse:

Credit: winstonwatchman

Credit: tim_hutch
Washington Park Renovation:
The park shelter that burned will be replaced with an historically accurate design and materials, when the park's current phase is completed. That phase should be completed this month? They have detailed drawings and photographs to replicate it. After an investigation, no one seems to know what happened to it?
200 West First Street Mixed-use:
A look at the site for this proposed 20-storey mixed-use building:

Credit: tim_hutch
This is the tallest of the two buildings to be demolished for the 20-storey mixed-use building and parking deck:

Credit: winstonwatchman
Ivy Court Townhouses:
Developer STC Properties has acquired land and has approval in downtown's Industry Hill Neighborhood to construct 40 townhouses. This developer is known for adaptive-reuse and missing-middle housing. These townhouses will be located on 10th Street, next to the Rails-to-Trails Bicycle Commuter Highway Expansion, which will have future rail transit. This is being constructed in the Downtown Entertainment District and it has zoning that allows for loud music and partying late into the night. Something to keep in mind, as you consider buying one of these. Also worth noting: This site was previously the Union Grove Cemetery. The graves were relocated in the 1950s, but the developer must keep a close watch on the construction site. It shows how hot the downtown Winston-Salem housing market is. This is a great project to follow around Hallowe'en. What will they find when they start digging?
8 W 3 Apartments & Retail:

Credit: AeUiKco5Od8
Our first look inside:

Credit: winston_360
Those big columns are the original 1911 columns from the old bank lobby:

Credit: unknown
The bank converted the tall lobby into two floors during a renovation, to gain more room. While it added a floor to the building's total floors, it cost the building a beautiful tall lobby with these columns and that ceiling. I doubt the apartment developer (PMC Property Group) will remove that floor, since it allows for more apartment units.

Credit: winston_360
Shallow Ford Historic Site:
The State of North Carolina has purchased 246 acres for this project, which will create "a major site for canoe camping, canoe access, and passive outdoor recreation along the Yadkin River paddle trail" in Forsyth County. It is one of the best preserved sites of a river ford on the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road. Did you know: Lord Charles Cornwallis led his British troops across this site at the Yadkin River in February 1781.
Dynamis Estate Wines: Built! 
Dynamis Estate Wines is the newest winery in metro Winston-Salem's Yadkin Valley AVA. They are located in a beautiful Brushy Mountains location, on 1,500 acres. The geology of the mountain, drainage, elevation, low humidity, mountain breezes, and the rocky soil on their property create high quality wines, which can cost around $100+ a bottle. They make a sauvignon blanc (French style, with malolactic fermentation and aging in concrete), merlot (stainless-steel fermentation, aged in new French oak), free-run cabernet sauvignon (fermented in oak vats), a rose made with malbec, a sparkling wine from chardonnay and two California-style red blends. Join their wine club, which starts at $500 a year. Their wines have done well in side-by-side tastings with highly coveted California wines. This appears to be a good must visit the next time you're in the Winston-Salem area.
• Video Link
Shaffner House Hotel:
Kelli Elliott will open The Founders Restaurant at Shaffner Inn. The opening is scheduled for October 2022.
Moravian Coffee House & Taproom with Hotel:
The Moravian Book & Gift Shop could become a coffee house and taproom on the ground floor and hotel rooms on the upper two floors of the 1867 building. Interestingly, this building was once used by Indera Mills as a textile mill. It became a downtown bookstore in 1977 with colonial-themed gifts.
923 North Liberty Apartments:
This building is being cleared-out and has a date with the wrecking ball - It will be replaced by a massive new downtown apartment building:

Credit: winston_360
Winston Lake Park Improvements:
Golf course upgrades will be presented to City Council in the next three-to-six months. Maybe "Winston Lake Park Improvements" will reappear on our project list, with a new phase of work, soon?
Chatham Building Apartments & Retail:
The developer is seeking historic tax credits for this project and that may delay the project? They are actually creating a multi-building historic district to gain the tax credits and this will qualify other downtown buildings for historic tax credits.

Credit: 146mIjFrg1I
Granville Park Renovation:
This park renovation should start construction in the next one-to-three months.
Winston Junction Phase II:
It appears as if site demolition is completed or near completion?

Credit: industryhillwsnc
Towne Lake Commons:
This is a massive development of townhouses, apartments, and duplexes, around a 4 acre lake. The developer is Frank Ascott of TRG Capital LLC and the architect is Tate Architecture. The first phase has 291 multifamily units, with completion set for 2024. The second phase will have townhouses, with completion set for Fall 2023. Amenities include a trail around the lake, with benches, a gazebo, picnic areas, and a dog park. The development will also include an HOA and coffee shop.
One of the existing buildings at the site:

Credit: winstonwatchman
Interstate 74:

Credit: BGUodaUFgxM

Credit: VvyZCc0CngI
Sentinel Commons:
Work is starting to add a storefront on Spruce Street. They will clad the storefront in the same aluminum panels seen on the northern end of the building. Also, look for landscaping improvements.
Novant Health Critical Care Center:

Credit: Nurse Kat
Winston Underground:
This is one of the first new projects announced due to the expansion of the Rails-to-Trails Bicycle Commuter Highway project and its proposed rail transit line. Winston Underground is an adaptive-reuse project for creative entrepreneurs and a launch space for startups. An old warehouse, built in 1920, was acquired along the path and future rail transit line, with plans to seek historic tax credits. Alliance Architecture will be the architect for the project and RDG Acquisitions is the developer. This space will also include a 20,000 square-foot indoor retail market and it will have co-working space, in addition to a makerspace with small rentable (flexible 3 month terms) industrial startup spaces for creatives. The space is temperature controlled, has workspace for kitting & fulfilling orders, all needed equipment and people who can help you learn how to use it, and daily pickups for UPS, USPS, and FedEx. When you outgrow your garage, you can move to this space to make things and sell them in the market. The developers are in talks with Raleigh-based The Loading Dock, so this will be very similar to that, but with a few other uses added. Construction is scheduled to start in 2023. No completion date at this time?

Credit: Algenon Cash
Hanes Park Phase II:
This project should be completed this month, if there are no weather delays?
Krispy Kreme Mix Plant Renovation:
Since this company is so famous and loved, I thought I would report on this project. Krispy Kreme is renovating their mix plant on Ivy Avenue and moving jobs from Iowa to this Winston-Salem building. Litwin Construction is the General Contractor and it appears to be a significant renovation. I doubt we will find any photographs to follow this, so I'm not adding it to our project list.
Robert Hall Hotel and Conference Center:
Base Camp is the newest tenant to open at Robert Hall. They are a business incubator, located in the office space part of the development.
This part of the project (The Vault) appears to be completed:

Credit: roberthallwsnc
New chairs at Al Capone’s bar:

Credit: roberthallwsnc
A 1941 cash register:

Credit: roberthallwsnc
A new mural at the mixed-use complex:

Credit: jksincorporated
The schools and big headquarters that built Winston-Salem:

Credit: jksincorporated
Winston-Salem was once North Carolina's corporate headquarters, manufacturing, and banking powerhouse, producing most of the State's tax revenue:

Credit: jksincorporated
Artreaux Apartments:
I think the parking deck is completed. Work continues on the townhouses, apartment building, and co-working space.
Apartment Building:

Credit: Mark
Townhouses:

Credit: Mark

Credit: Mark
Quote:
Originally Posted by IceHombre @ WSTB Forum
|
NASCAR All-Star Race:
North Wilkesboro Speedway was recently restored enough to host racing events again, after years of abandonment. Those events were so popular, fans asked NASCAR to return to the track and NASCAR listened. North Wilkesboro Speedway will host the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race on May 21, 2023. They are still in the process of restoring and modernizing the 1946 track, but it should be ready in time for the big event. Some of the grandstands had to be demolished and I've heard capacity could be a third of what it was when it last hosted a NASCAR race. So, buy your tickets early! Even at reduced capacity, this should be great news for hotels and tourist attractions in the Winston-Salem / Yadkin River Valley area. From downtown Winston-Salem, take Salem Parkway west and the track is on the highway. You'll see it towering above the highway.
Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Renovation:

Credit: magnoliaconstruction_llc

Credit: magnoliaconstruction_llc
New Interstate Highway:
Forsyth, Yadkin, and Wilkes counties have formally asked the State of North Carolina to seek Interstate designation for Salem Parkway / U.S. 421. Yes, it's the highway connecting downtown Winston-Salem to the North Wilkesboro Speedway in the news above. This likely won't happen in time for the NASCAR All-Star Race, but the counties are starting the process.
Grant Park Expansion Phase II:
Work on this phase of the park should be completed this month.
The coolest "new-construction" picnic shelter I've ever seen in a city park:

Credit: stitchdesignshop
Dr. Caryl Guth Women's Basketball Clubhouse: Built! 
It's completed, but sadly, no photographs of the completed clubhouse. The dedication was more focused on speakers and donors.
Chris Paul Basketball Clubhouse: Built! 
This project is now completed and ready for the ACC basketball season!

Credit: walterrobbsarchitects
Stevens Center Renovation:

Credit: lightroomgirl
WFBH ED/OR/ICU Tower:
We should see the tower crane next month. An interesting fact: They are recycling 95% of debris, reducing landfill waste.
New Rendering - They will build half of it by 2026 and add five or six more floors in the future... they also added a park:

Credit: Atrium Health
An older image of the construction:

Credit: piedmonttriadliving
Newer construction update - 9/29:

Credit: TBJ

Credit: TBJ

Credit: TBJ
Nissen Wagon Works Mixed-use:
The owner of the building is bringing-on a partner and plans to convert 96,300 square-feet of this historic wagon and horse-drawn carriage factory into a mixed-use project centered on co-warehousing. It would provide flexibility for small businesses to grow their warehousing needs as their business grows. It would also have a food truck commissary, a cafe, makerspace, co-working space, and outdoor performance space. Yes, they do plan to preserve the original 1834 star smokestack.
492 West End Blvd:
Thanks to Fam Brownlee, we now know more about this building! This building was completed in 1927 as Mary Elizabeth Apartments, with Summit Street Pharmacy as the ground floor tenant in January 1928. It originally had two towers, one on each corner, until they were removed in the 1960s.
Someone should restore it to its original appearance:

Credit: Fam Brownlee
The Remedy would like to open their space in the building in early November 2022. They are renovating the space as a place where you can read a book and sit by the fire or have a beer across from the park. They will have craft coffee, local beer & wine, baked goods, specialty waffles, artisan sandwiches, and charcuterie boards. I haven't seen an update on the apartments in over a year? Maybe that part of the renovation is completed? The retail space should be 100% filled by the end of this year.
The completed project will be retail and apartments:

Credit: theremedyws
Accelerate NC — Life Sciences Manufacturing:
Three local colleges (including Forsyth Tech and Winston-Salem State University) have partnered with the N.C. Biotechnology Center for a $25 million federal grant for economic development, as part of the Build Back Better Challenge. They will assist life science manufacturing clusters through expanding, connecting and promoting training and career opportunities to under-served and distressed communities, including historically excluded populations. Governor Roy Cooper said it "will boost our economy and strengthen our workforce for years to come.” Bill Bullock, NCBiotech SVP, said "it will take our state’s life sciences manufacturing capability to the next level." Amgen, Biogen, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer have agreed to match the funds.
Whitaker Park Mixed-use Project:

Credit: viatordesignandconstruction
Ziehl-Abegg North American Headquarters:
German Company Ziehl-Abegg will move their North American Headquarters and 200 jobs from another city to Winston-Salem. They will also create 600 new jobs as part of the headquarters project, making this an 800 job North American headquarters. This project does require incentives from the City, County, and State.
Salem Lake Park Improvements:
Design work for the trellis bridge should be completed in Fall 2022 and sent for bid.
Bailey Power Plant Tenants:
Barcelona Burger installed their sign a day or two before Gears & Guitars. They are planning to open in the first week of December. This place has everything from rotisserie chicken to hotdogs, along with 20 craft beer taps and wine. They were voted as having the best burger in the state. Interestingly, the building's developer talked them into opening here. For those who don't know, this developer won't just lease these two floors of retail spaces to anyone. He is picking the tenants he wants and has said no to a few tenants interested in leasing here.
New signage:

Credit: thebarcelonaburgerbar

Credit: winstonwatchman
TW Garner Campus:
This phase of the project is now completed. The new building is used for storing raw materials and has office space. The company expects to build other buildings on the 33-acre campus, next to the airport, and this building is designed for expansion, with that expansion already in planning. They have a need for 600,000 square-feet of new space. Their Texas Pete Hot Sauce brand is growing so fast they need a large campus to expand. As a result of their expansions, they expect to add more jobs.
A look inside the new building:

Credit: TBJ

Credit: TBJ

Credit: frontstreetcapital
Truliant Headquarters Expansion:
An update on this conversion to office space (I still think they should've added more windows):

Credit: DavieConstNC
A look at the financial company's office space:

Credit: DavieConstNC

Credit: DavieConstNC

Credit: DavieConstNC
Link Apartments 4th Street:
Yes, it has parking under the building and a pool in the middle:

Credit: piedmonttriadliving
An old photograph - Another look at the pool in the middle, from the skyscraper behind it:

Credit: piedmonttriadliving
The pool with the skyscraper in the background (yes, the skyscraper is on the same lot as the apartments):

Credit: link4thstreet
Looking down on the pool in the middle:

Credit: link4thstreet
Linear dog park amenity (a dog park in an alley/laneway between the two buildings):

Credit: link4thstreet
The top floor amenity level:

Credit: link4thstreet
The top floor amenity level in October 2022:

Credit: link4thstreet

Credit: link4thstreet
An old interior photograph:

Credit: piedmonttriadliving

Credit: lightroomgirl
Elevators:

Credit: link4thstreet
The view:

Credit: link4thstreet
Signage:

Credit: lightroomgirl

Credit: realsmithmcneill

Credit: gearsandguitarsfest
Awesome light fixture made from bicycle parts in the bike storage and repair space:

Credit: link4thstreet
The exterior lights are now installed and working... and wow! It looks great at night:

Credit: tim_hutch

Credit: WFDD
The Sculpture:
• Video Link

Credit: link4thstreet

Credit: monaart

Credit: monaart

Credit: monaart

Credit: lightroomgirl

Credit: lightroomgirl

Credit: link4thstreet
Quote:
Originally Posted by IceHombre @ WSTB Forum
|
Alternative Transportation:
Salem Parkway Bike & Pedestrian Path:
Design for the eastern-half of this project is completed and will go out to bid this fall. Construction is expected to start in the Spring. As for the western-half, their consultant started work on the project in August (2022) and the design will be completed in 16 months. The western-half will start as the eastern-half finishes. Both the eastern and western segments are fully funded and ready-to-go.
Skating the few completed sections:

Credit: tim_hutch
Downtown Streetscape:
On MLK, Duke Energy is still working on the lighting design. Landscape design can't start until the lighting design is completed. The design phase should be completed by early-2023.
Rails-to-Trails Bicycle Commuter Highway Expansion:
Design completion is set for Summer 2024, with construction starting in Fall 2024. Completion is set for Fall 2025.
Off-Subject:
Yes, this in the Winston-Salem metro area:
• Video Link
• Video Link
Bookmarks Book Festival 2022:
• Video Link
Neil Degrasse Tyson talking at 2022 Bookmarks Festival:

Credit: bookmarksnc
2022 Queer Fear Film Festival:
The Queer Fear Film Festival is back with in-person screenings at A/perture Cinema in downtown Winston-Salem. This is the only all-LGBTQ+ horror film festival in the South. It showcases, supports, and celebrates queer horror film creators in the South. Films in this year's festival are from around the world and not just the South, so this is an international film festival. The film festival is October 21-23, at A/perture Cinema, on Fourth Street in downtown Winston-Salem. Filmmaker Tim Connolly will be at A/perture Cinema at 4 p.m., on October 22.
Winston-Salem - A Model City to Study:
Chapel Hill-Carrboro (part of the Raleigh-Durham metro area) will tour downtown Winston-Salem's IQ District on October 24, 2022, to look for life science economic development ideas and study public-private partnerships.
• Video Link
Gears & Guitars 2022:
Winston-Salem is home to the nation's top sport cycling event. It's also known as the top sport cycling city in the U.S.,. Over the years, this has transformed into a massive multi-day party of everything music, food, beer, and bicycles. It attracts the world's top cyclists to compete and also have fun. You can spot celebrities, meet people from around the world, and even take part in cycling events. They will also add special international competitions and/or something that seems crazy. This year it was "Streets of Fire" bicycle drag racing on downtown's Fourth Street (Restaurant Row). All of these events are rain or shine, with cyclists competing at high speed in the rain, if it does rain. They take-over the entire downtown. It is my favorite downtown festival. One of the competitions has national touring bands performing on stage as cyclists circle the stage and crowd, competing in USA Cycling events. There is nothing else like it.
And now... "The Biggest Party on Two Wheels"
This event even has its own beer:

Credit: incendiarybrew
Yes, competing right at the restaurants and apartments in downtown's IQ District, as people look-on:

Credit: smittydeac
Multiple stages of live music around downtown:

Credit: downtownwinstonsalem
Multiple stages of live music around downtown:

Credit: smittydeac
Multiple stages of live music around downtown:

Credit: tim_hutch
Yes, in the rain!

Credit: gearsandguitarsfest

Credit: gearsandguitarsfest

Credit: realsmithmcneill

Credit: realsmithmcneill

Credit: realsmithmcneill

Credit: realsmithmcneill

Credit: tim_hutch

Credit: tim_hutch

Credit: tim_hutch

Credit: jasonthiel
A few of the winners:

Credit: gearsandguitarsfest
Competitors' perspective:
• Video Link
• Video Link
Random Photographs:
Fiesta 2022 (in the rain):

Credit: open_arms_community

This colorful laneway / alley actually leads to an LGBTQ+ bar and an outdoor drag competition space

Credit: unknown
One of the new bike & pedestrian bridges lit on the downtown skyline:

Credit: tim_hutch
Colonial architecture:

Credit: winston_360
The remains of what was once Hurricane Ian:

Credit: IceHombre @ WSTB Forum
9-11 (Twin Towers of Light):

Credit: viatordesignandconstruction

Credit: rileydaggett_photography

Credit: jasonthiel
A house from 1832 in Winston-Salem:

Credit: winston_360
A building constructed in 1794 in Winston-Salem:

Credit: winston_360
Your City