Stories Archive - The Pearl

Serving up flavor and community at The Pearl

September 28, 2026

Meet the leader behind the innovation district’s growing food and beverage scene Taalib Hasan and his team’s culinary delights are fueling The Pearl’s hungry tenants, students, faculty, staff and community. The mouth-watering description that Hasan gives his favorite menu item at The Study Food Social,…

Inside IRCAD North America: Medical Student Gets Front-Row Seat to Surgical Innovation

September 24, 2026

For Justin Linden, a second-year medical student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine Winston-Salem, a six-week summer internship at IRCAD North America (IRCAD NA) offered more than a behind-the-scenes look at surgery. It gave him an immersive opportunity to learn from medical experts, explore…

STEAM

Lumbee Tribe Students Envision Future Healthcare Careers at The Pearl

September 11, 2026

As a longtime educator and leader with the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Rita Locklear knew that she wanted a hands-on, science-focused experience for the group of high schoolers she led as part of a Lumbee summer camp called Project CREATE, which is short for…

What is an Innovation District?

August 25, 2026

When the Brookings Institution released the report “The Rise of Innovation Districts” in 2014, it heralded a global explosion. Today, innovation districts exist in over 150 cities worldwide. From Barcelona to Bogotá, from New South Wales to North Carolina, innovation districts shape local communities and…

From Banking to Breakthroughs: How The Pearl is Powering Charlotte’s Next Economy

July 9, 2026

One year in, Charlotte's first innovation district is attracting talent, anchoring life sciences growth and re-shaping the city's economic future The corporate names emblazoned on Charlotte’s glimmering skyline have long been a reminder that the financial sector built the city and remains one of its…

Home is a Place of Comfort

July 1, 2026

People of The Pearl meets Julia Jones, head of Concierge Services at IRCAD North America There’s no place like home, especially when it boasts one of the best skyline views of Charlotte and serves as a transformative hub for advanced surgical training and R&D. Anyone…

STEAM

STEMulating Young Minds Fuels Her Passion for Teaching

May 26, 2026

People of The Pearl meets STEM educator Jalavender Clowney When educator Jalavender Clowney first visited The Pearl in summer 2024, she wore a hard hat and safety vest as the steel and concrete structure was still being built. Today, she’s in the same space at the new K-12 STEM Lab, introducing students to the creative outlets and potential careers available to them. Clowney is a middle…

Leaders from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Wake Forest University and Advocate Health cut a gold ribbon at The Pearl on May 11, 2026.

Event Recap

With new campus grand opening, Wake Forest underscores Charlotte commitment

May 15, 2026

Wake Forest University welcomed the community to its new, permanent home in The Pearl(opens in a new tab) innovation district in Charlotte on Monday, the culmination of a multi-year quest to deepen its connections to one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. University leaders cut a…

Students participate in hands-on STEM learning.

Local High School Students Explore Future Healthcare Careers at MEDucation Day 2026

May 6, 2026

High school juniors in the Winston-Salem and Charlotte areas discover healthcare advancements and career opportunities at Advocate Health In partnership with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the College LAUNCH for Leadership Program hosted over 120 high school juniors at its MEDucation Day program…

Brains, Bones and Bragging Rights: The Anatomy Cup Debuts at The Pearl

April 20, 2026

People of The Pearl meets Tafline Arbor, Ph.D. The final day of Dr. Tafline Arbor’s anatomy class was unlike any other, as first-year medical students stretched their legs and minds for the inaugural Human Structure and Function Cup Competition at The Pearl. The competition was…

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