Wake Forest expands to Charlotte’s Innovation District, marking historic milestone in education

Wake Forest University is dramatically increasing its impact in North Carolina by developing a new academic campus in The Pearl, Charlotte’s innovation district. The Pearl officially opened its doors this week, marking a pivotal moment for both the University and the Queen City. Anchored by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the expansion is poised to transform medical education, research and economic development in one of the country’s fastest-growing cities.

The Promise of The Pearl

Wake Forest’s presence in the Pearl promises groundbreaking collaboration and innovation. Charlotte has long been the largest U.S. city without a four-year medical school. That will change this summer, when Wake Forest School of Medicine opens its second campus and welcomes the inaugural class of medical students in Charlotte. The medical school will be located in the Howard R. Levine Center for Education.

As stated by Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente, “Wake Forest’s presence in The Pearl allows us to train future physicians, researchers, and leaders in a collaborative, urban environment that reflects the needs and opportunities of the communities we serve. This is more than just a new campus — it’s a strategic investment in the future of healthcare and innovation.”

Advancing Medical Education and Innovation

“Our Charlotte campus marks a transformative moment for Wake Forest School of Medicine,” said Dr. Ebony Boulware, Dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “It brings our mission to life in new and powerful ways — advancing innovation, forging strong community partnerships, and expanding access to top-tier medical education.”

Students will engage in a unique problem-based education model and get expanded, hands-on experience in the city’s unique clinical settings. With its first class of students starting in July, enrollment is expected to increase to 100 students per class over the next five years. Furthermore, The Pearl is home to IRCAD North America, which includes a surgical training curriculum with the latest techniques in cardiovascular, neuro and orthopedic surgeries.

Expanding Academic and Professional Programs

Wake Forest also plans to move the Wake Forest School of Professional Studies and the School of Business’ nationally ranked MBA program from the current location in Uptown Charlotte to The Pearl. These schools offer a broad selection of programs to Charlotte-area working professionals with a myriad of pathways to advance their careers, staying committed to:

• Close faculty-student collaboration
• Strong market connections
• Rewarding experiential learning that amplifies impact

Modern Standards in Medical Training

In addition to these developments, modern medical education reflects how medicine is taught, learned, and practiced in the 21st century. For example, Columbia University Medical Center’s Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center serves as a 100,000-square-foot glass tower containing technologically advanced classrooms, collaboration spaces, and a modern simulation center. Its defining feature, the Study Cascade, is a network of vertically linked spaces in a variety of sizes, both focused and social, private and communal, meant to nurture collaboration.

To support progressive medical education programs, space matters for structured and informal learning. Similar to the goals at The Pearl, these environments are designed to be conducive to collaborative, team-based learning and teaching.