Wake Tech Education and Innovation Center

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Wake Technical Community College

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Wendell, North Carolina

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110,000 SF

Exterior view of the Wake Tech Education and Innovation Center at dusk, designed with clean lines, expansive glass, and a prominent overhanging roof. The multi-story building features vertical fins, modern metal and brick finishes, and warm interior lighting that glows through the large windows, all set against a backdrop of open green space and a soft evening sky. This view shows an expansive parking lot in the foregorund.

Modern interior of a Wake Tech Community College building featuring a bright, open lobby with a prominent staircase. The space has white floors and walls accented with green panels and living moss wall installations. A central staircase with wooden steps and glass railings connects floors, with several students in motion on the stairs. To the left, two students sit on built-in seating near large windows overlooking greenery outside. To the right, a small seating area with blue chairs and small tables includes a student studying. The design emphasizes natural light, open space, and biophilic elements that bring nature indoors.

Interior view of a bright, modern student commons area at the Wake Tech Education and Innovation Center. The space features floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the green landscape outside. A slatted wood ceiling detail with recessed lighting adds warmth and texture along the central spine of the space. Students are seen studying in upholstered booths, sitting on ottomans, and walking through space, creating a lively and collaborative atmosphere.

A modern classroom at Wake Tech Community College featuring tiered rows of light wood tables with black chairs. A male instructor in a red shirt stands at a podium on the left side of the room while students are seated throughout the classroom. The space has contemporary design elements including recessed lighting in the white ceiling, carpeted flooring with blue patterns, and wooden accent panels on the left wall. Ceiling-mounted projectors, a whiteboard, and internal windows looking into adjacent rooms complete the educational environment. Students are engaged in note-taking and classroom activities.

Angled exterior view of the Wake Tech Education and Innovation Center showcasing a dynamic façade with a mix of glass, metal, and vertical wood fins. The building features an expansive covered walkway supported by slender columns, large glass windows revealing interior activity, and a distinctive cantilevered roof with integrated lighting and structural framing overhead.

A Gateway to Student Success

The Wake Tech Education and Innovation Center at the new 106-acre academic campus provides core general classroom and student services for an underserved body of students seeking access to high-quality education. Designed as the gateway to campus, the warm and welcoming design provides an accessible and inclusive experience for students. Furthermore, the facility’s design creates an inclusive platform for all types of students and learning styles. The Wake Tech Education and Innovation Center contains amenities that encourage students to remain on campus. These amenities create a vibrant sense of community and a strong venue for intentional student engagement, a sense of place, and a feeling of identity and pride.

Built for Community, Health, and Connection

A monumental stair and multi-story green wall in the main lobby integrates biophilic design. This evidence-based design strategy, implemented by BSA’s interior design team, is known to improve the cognitive and emotional health. It also serves as one more means of creating an environment for student lingering and connection. The central stair and transparent stair towers promote movement over elevators, supporting wellness. Understanding that students benefit from spending more time on campus, our designers emphasized daylight in collaborative spaces and circulation zones. Built-in seating offers places to recharge, supporting an informal learning landscape. Informal learning environments help students focus and stay engaged.

View the central stair in action here.

A Commons Designed to Inspire

A double-height student commons overlooks the Wake Tech campus promenade. The curved, transparent façade invites natural light and overlooks the activity in the center of campus, fostering a vibrant, healthy atmosphere. Circulation paths hug the building’s perimeter, offering visibility and daylight to students as they study, walk, or relax between classes.

High-Performance, Sustainable Architecture

The center integrates sustainable building design strategies from the ground up. Sustainability strategies such as solar panels, sun shading devices, energy-efficient building systems, and a high-performance envelope are an integral part of the design of the building. Additionally, these measures contribute to the campus’ sustainability goals, as well as the project-specific goal of achieving Green Globes Certification. Occupied green roofs support rainwater harvesting and stormwater strategies. Even more, ocally sourced materials reduce embodied carbon and support regional businesses. Maximizing the quantity and visibility of photo-voltaic panels on the roof makes the Wake Tech Education and Innovation Center a physical reminder of its commitment to the environment. As a result, the design cut carbon emissions by 33% over the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 baseline design.

Continuing a Legacy of Impact

For over 60 years, Wake Tech Community College has served as a trusted education partner. The new Education and Innovation Center continues that mission. It connects students to workforce training, emerging technologies, and strong academic programs. Finally, the building reflects Wake Tech’s commitment to affordability, accessibility, and sustainable growth—now and for future generations.

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Disciplines

Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, Sustainability

Awards

2022 – International Interior Design Association – Carolinas Chapter, DesignWorks Awards: Unbuilt Honorable Mention