CU-ICAR set to expand industry offerings with construction of Technology Neighborhood III

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Home to 21 global businesses, the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) is expanding its footprint on the 250-acre campus with a new technology neighborhood, Technology Neighborhood III. The first building in the neighborhood will be a multi-tenant 40,000-square-foot high-bay facility supported by $2 million in funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).

“As a contributor to the state’s knowledge economy, world-class facilities like those at CU-ICAR are critical. TN3 will support our students, researchers and industry partners with an innovative environment in which to prosper,” said Clemson President Jim Clements. “We are so appreciative of the continued support from our partners at the EDA for believing in our vision and providing funding to support these efforts, which will in turn allow us to support South Carolina’s economy.”

On Thursday, Dana Gartzke, assistant secretary of commerce for economic development, had an opportunity to tour the CU-ICAR campus and award Clemson with the $2 million EDA grant.

“Working alongside the City of Greenville, the state of South Carolina and our partners in Washington D.C. makes it possible for Clemson to provide state-of-the-art facilities that will help our strategic corporate partners grow and flourish,” said Angie Leidinger, vice president for External Affairs. “CU-ICAR has continued to grow since its inception 15 years ago from an automotive focus to be inclusive of the mobility industry in response to the needs of industry. This expansion is a further testament to our ability to support our partners, our state and our students.”

The building is designed to accommodate new and growing companies in the Upstate. The building aims to fill a void in the local real estate market for high-quality multi-purpose facilities that can accommodate a range of businesses, from startup companies to established firms in the automotive, transportation, manufacturing and engineering support service industries.

Technology Neighborhood III is CU-ICAR’s first new neighborhood in 15 years. First announced in 2003, CU-ICAR was founded to be an advanced-technology neighborhood where academia and industry converge. CU-ICAR announced the opening of its first building in 2007 and finished its sixth building in Technology Neighborhood I in 2016.

“From OEMs to suppliers in automotive, aerospace and beyond, our global reputation is directly tied to our ability to support Clemson’s partners and advance economic development in South Carolina,” said Jack Ellenberg, associate vice president of Corporate Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives. “CU-ICAR is a unique research park in that it’s not just a location, it’s a campus with active academic programs where companies can interact with other organizations, outstanding researchers and Clemson students, making it an asset to Greenville, our development allies and the state.”

The facility is planned as a multi-tenant high-bay, flexible laboratory and office building shell project intended for business tenants. Anticipated businesses located in the building may have 5,000 to 6,000 square foot high-bay spaces for laboratory, small-scale distribution, engineering/technical services, etc. with truck access at the rear. It is anticipated that some tenants may desire office spaces located in the front areas of the building.

LICAR LLC, an entity of the Clemson University Land Stewardship Foundation (CULSF), will be the developer and owner of the facility. CULSF is an independent, non-profit entity that seeks to support Clemson through the development of real property in ways that maximize the educational, research and economic development mission of the University.

Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research
The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) is a 250-acre advanced-technology research campus where university, industry and government organizations collaborate. CU-ICAR offers master’s and Ph.D. programs in automotive engineering and is conducting leading-edge applied research in critical areas, such as advanced product-development strategies, sustainable mobility, intelligent manufacturing systems and advanced materials. CU-ICAR has industrial-scale laboratories and testing equipment in world-class facilities.