Eastern Wake 4.0 is Wake Tech Community College’s newest campus in Wendell, North Carolina, focused on technology-forward education and workforce-development programs. The campus’ name refers to the term “Industry 4.0,” a reference to a fourth industrial revolution that includes the Internet of Things and the networking of machines and technology like 5G, cloud computing, and smart manufacturing.

Wake Tech is North Carolina’s largest community college, serving more than 74,000 adults annually, with six campuses, three training centers, multiple community sites, and a comprehensive array of online learning options. With the new Eastern Wake 4.0 site, the college envisions partnerships for innovation with the surrounding community, local industry, and other nearby academic institutions.

The campus master plan supports Wake Tech’s diverse student experience, commitment to the local community, and exponential growth. The design organizes seven buildings around the central core of the campus, welcoming visitors and reinforcing a connection to nature with its pedestrian walkways, landscape, and views of a natural wetlands area. Determining the optimal layout for the campus buildings involved a balance of functional needs, energy-efficient building orientation, environmental sensitivity, and creation of high-quality outdoor spaces that support students’ experiences.