New book dives into the miracle of Research Triangle Park
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The creation of Research Triangle Park in 1959 is often cited as one of the most important events in North Carolina's history.
- To many, it marked the start of a wave of high-tech jobs to the state at a time when its main industries — textiles, tobacco and furniture — were declining
Why it matters: But, as a new book on the history of Research Triangle Park argues, that eventuality was never guaranteed. It took unprecedented collaboration between schools, businesses and a multitude of local governments.
Driving the news: "Miracle Road," published this month by Duke University Press, offers a fascinating look at how the Triangle became one of the country's most educated and prosperous regions.
- It was written by Mack Paul, an influential Raleigh attorney, and his late father Allen Paul, a former journalist and author.
Axios talked with Mack Paul about his new book. This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
What made you and your late father want to write this book? As an author, my father saw this as an exciting writing assignment. For me, it turned out to be a one-time chance to collaborate with my father on a subject I knew well. Our differing approaches allowed us to combine the human interest element with a deeper look at the area's direction — and with only a little bit of arguing along the way.
After doing research, what made RTP so successful? The secret sauce centers on unique, long-term collaborations among business, the area's three Tier One research universities, and state and local government.
- Ultimately, these collaborations produced a talent-rich area, and talent drives success in the tech economy. We are now seeing such talent spread further out from the Triangle, drawing companies to areas previously left behind by the tech economy.
What do you think the next evolution of RTP will look like? RTP 3.0 will shape the Park's evolution by allowing new types of development. In the future, we will see a handful of mixed-use areas like Hub RTP. These so-called "innovation hubs" allow workers to live, work, and interact in a walkable, vibrant environment.
- However, this type of development can require significant infrastructure, including transit and structured parking, and that will take time to finance and build. Be assured that large office parks will remain a vital part of RTP's physical identity, especially for life science companies which require lab space.