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Innovation Quarter updated its Phase 2 master plan! The new plan adds more community amenities and street-facing retail while reducing the number of buildings and green spaces.
November 17, 2025
What is Innovation Quarter Phase 2?
Innovation Quarter (IQ) Phase 2 is a 28-acre expansion of Winston-Salem’s innovation district that will add 2.7 million square feet of mixed-use development, including labs, offices, residential units, and retail spaces.
IQ updated its Phase 2 master plan due to the growth and investment it has recently experienced, such as:
- The $100 million renovation at 635 Vine Street to create Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Eye Institute, which will open in 2026
- The $12 million acquisition of the former Linden Center, which will be repurposed as flexible laboratory and biomanufacturing space
The updated plan keeps key features like Fogle Commons — a corridor with shops, art, and restaurants — but also introduces several changes, including:
- 8 buildings (reduced from 10)
- 12 acres of green space (previously 15 acres)
- 430 residential units (previously 450)
- 97,000 square feet of street-facing retail and commercial space (up from 30,000 square feet)
- The addition of Fall Branch Plaza, a public space for active recreation and community use
Other features to note:
- Active-rec parking garage, featuring innovative recreational facilities like a rock climbing wall, a rooftop running track, and rooftop sports courts
- Family park with green spaces, playgrounds, and a small retail or café pavilion for relaxation and social connection
Timeline
IQ originated in the early 2000s as an initiative to reshape part of downtown Winston-Salem into a modern research park. Significant redevelopment throughout the 2010s brought major projects to life, including 525@Vine, Bailey Park, Wake Downtown, and Bailey South.
By 2021, IQ released their initial Phase 2 master plan. Atrium Health invested $25 million in Phase 2’s horizontal infrastructure, a project that ran from Fall 2023 through early 2025. This work included:
- Extending the Long Branch Trail by nearly half a mile
- Laying electrical and fiber conduit
- Adding new streetlights and trees
- Grading the site
IQ is currently working with its partners to plan out Phase 2’s vertical construction — the entire project is expected to be complete in 10-15 years.
Why It Matters
Phase 2 will strengthen Winston-Salem’s standing as a life sciences hub, attracting more companies to the region and driving economic growth.
- By the Numbers: In 2024, Winston-Salem ranked as the nation’s 7th fastest-growing region for life sciences.
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