RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. [February 4, 2025] – Upper elementary-aged kids, tweens, teens and adults alike will enjoy dynamic art and hands-on experiences at The Makery, a vibrant new space from the team behind the acclaimed educational nonprofit Kidzu Children’s Museum. Located in Boyxard RTP, the experiential dining and retail destination in the heart of Research Triangle Park (RTP), the innovative maker space is slated to open in early spring 2025.
Building on the success of Kidzu’s most celebrated learning environment, the new space at Boxyard RTP will be dedicated to maker education, innovation, design-thinking and science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) learning. With a core mission to inspire creative confidence and engagement with STEAM disciplines, The Makery brings raw, often recycled, materials together with more advanced technologies suitable for its older audiences. This integration of traditional and modern media fosters creativity while bridging the gap between hands-on craftsmanship and digital innovation. Whether participants are crafting with simple materials or working with advanced technology like 3D printers and robotics, the space will help them embrace their inner maker.
“Since 2006, Kidzu has nurtured the creativity and confidence of children across the Triangle with exhibits and programs that reflect our community’s rich academic and cultural fabric,” said Jamie DeMent Holcomb, CEO at Kidzu. “We are excited to expand Kidzu’s reach with the opening of The Makery. Boxyard RTP’s vibrant environment is the ideal place to inspire curiosity, strengthen our community and connect guests to STEAM learning.”
Maker education has a direct connection to critical STEAM learning needed for workforce development in North Carolina and helps children cultivate durable skills needed to thrive in the 21st-century workplace.
“Kidzu Children’s Museum is bringing something really special to Boxyard RTP with The Makery,” said Carolyn Coia, vice president of real estate at Research Triangle Foundation of NC. “This kind of hands-on, creative space aligns with our mission to create a lively, engaging environment for everyone who visits. We are excited to see how The Makery will inspire and connect the RTP community in new ways.”
The Makery at Boxyard RTP, together with a new coffee vendor, will be located at 900 Park Offices Drive. The property sits within Hub RTP, the vibrant downtown district in the heart of RTP. To learn more about The Makery at Boxyard RTP and Kidzu Children’s Museum, visit https://www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org. To learn more about Boxyard RTP and its array of vendors, visit https://boxyard.rtp.org/.
About Kidzu Children’s Museum
Kidzu Children’s Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been a cherished part of the Chapel Hill community since its founding. From our beginnings on Franklin Street to our time inside University Place (formerly University Mall), and now to our transitional space next to Binkley Preschool, where we’ve created The Nest, Kidzu has grown alongside the families we serve. Our goal has always been to establish a permanent museum that offers ample indoor and outdoor space to accommodate the needs of our ever-expanding community. With a focus on arts and STEM education, child health and wellness, emerging language and literacy, and environmental sustainability and stewardship, Kidzu Children’s Museum inspires children and the adults in their lives to learn through creative, purposeful play.
About Boxyard RTP
Discover a unique retail, food and entertainment venue at Boxyard RTP, located on the western side of Hub RTP, Research Triangle Park (RTP) ‘s 100-acre downtown district. First opened in 2021, Boxyard RTP offers a dynamic indoor-outdoor gathering space, dog park and performance stage comprised of 40 upcycled shipping containers where visitors can unwind and enjoy an experience unique to the Triangle region. Committed to social entrepreneurship, Boxyard RTP collaborates with a mix of hyper-local vendors to feature diverse offerings and enhance the cultural landscape of RTP through a robust event program that includes live music, comedy nights and more, accessible to people in and out of RTP. Owned and managed by the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina (RTF), a 501(c)(4) non-profit, the Foundation’s mission is to facilitate collaboration among the Research Triangle universities, promote cooperation between Research Triangle universities and industry and create a positive economic impact for residents of North Carolina. To learn more about Boxyard RTP and upcoming events, visit https://boxyard.rtp.org/.
About Research Triangle Park
People and ideas converge to create unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and advancement at Research Triangle Park (RTP), a cornerstone of economic growth and innovation in North Carolina. Spanning 7,000 acres, RTP is centrally located among Duke University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since its founding in 1959, RTP has grown into North America’s largest and most prominent research park that supports 55,000 employees and 385 companies, startups and national labs. Redefining the region, Hub RTP—RTP’s vibrant downtown—is a walkable urban district that promotes productivity, enhances well-being, offers a balanced environment and brings people together to work, live, play, stay, shop and dine for the first time in the history of the Park.
Home to industry leaders such as Apple, BASF, Biogen, Cisco Systems, EPA, Fidelity Investments, IBM, LabCorp, Lenovo, Lilly, NetApp, NIEHS, RTI International and United Therapeutics, RTP consistently attracts top-tier talent and enables groundbreaking research initiatives that drive global advancements. With a community focused on growth, innovation and collaboration, RTP remains a premier destination for transformative ideas. To learn more about Research Triangle Park, visit https://rtp.org.
Media Contact for Boxyard RTP
Ana Velez
Marketing Manager
velez@rtp.org