On July 18 and 19, 2013, the Research Triangle Park will host RTP ARCHIE, a community forum named after Archie Davis that seeks to source innovative ideas on redeveloping and reimagining Research Triangle Park.

“ARCHIE represents a physical and virtual community where the people of North Carolina can connect their ideas and visions,” said Bob Geolas, Research Triangle Park’s president and CEO.

RTP ARCHIE is designed to fit perfectly into the central mission of RTP, and into the three phases of the new master plan, redevelopment, reconnecting, and reimagining.

This announcement comes just weeks after RTP hosted a group of artists, architects and designers into the Park to discuss the physical presence of RTP. That meeting was focused on the physical layout of the Park, said Geolas, “and we decided to have an unconventional feel.”

“We’re really going to embrace the Park and it’s beautiful green space,” said Geolas. “We’ll create gateways into the Park, and make it a wonderful and inspiring physical space.”

“But the Park also has to be a place where people want to live, and work, and be,” said Geolas. There’s got to be events, community functions, and opportunities to spontaneously meet innovative and creative people, said Geolas, and that’s where RTP ARCHIE comes in to focus.

“Everyone wants to know how we were able to get people to work together and collaborate,” said Geolas, as “RTP was the first successful development of a collaborative public/private partnership.”

The development of a new master plan is also a public/private partnership. The private partners “are all excited and have been supportive of our vision,” said Geolas. “Each one is a little different, and I don’t see any road blocks.”

Each event and each function that RTP hosts is a crucial part of the implementation of the master plan, said Geolas. “We want to have the land parcels in place that we need,” said Geolas, “we want to have the commitment on the first phase of the infrastructure that must go in. And, we need the key component for that big idea – that ARCHIE idea.”

“We’re in the process of solidifying each of these,” said Geolas, “and the goal is to be able to announce all of that in the fall of 2013.”

This project, RTP ARCHIE, is essential in helping RTP determine a large, visionary idea, said Geolas. Archie Davis was a visionary leader, said Geolas, and “an ideal North Carolinian.”

“He grew up in the state, and loved it tremendously. He was a business leader and also a humanitarian. He loved the arts as well as science and technology. He served in public office in the state senate. He believed in the people of North Carolina,” said Geolas. “It’s fitting that we name the initiative after Archie Davis.”

“What’s the next big idea,” asked Geolas, “what is the one big thing that we can do for North Carolina that will impact the people of the state?”

That’s the goal of the RTP ARCHIE series, said Geolas. “The goal is to create a place that continues to serve the mission of RTP – support education, create jobs, improve the quality of life for the people in North Carolina.”

“If we do ARCHIE correctly,” said Geolas, “it will never actually be finished, it will always be in a state of becoming.” Big, visionary ideas will be developed and constantly implemented, said Geolas.

Government leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, employees of Park companies and community leaders have all been invited to participate in the RTP ARCHIE Summit. There is also an open invitation available through the RTP website.

Social campaigns on Twitter (#RTPARCHIE) and Instagram (@RTPARCHIE) will help RTP capture ideas, images, and visions for the future of the Park.