Research & Employment

North Carolina Research Campus

Built on the former Cannon Mills plant site, the campus is a public-private research center — not a single university.

AI-generated image — not a photograph of Kannapolis.

What it is

The North Carolina Research Campus was announced in 2005 after the 2003 closure of Pillowtex, the successor to Cannon Mills. It brings together university programs, research institutes and companies, with a long-standing emphasis on nutrition, agriculture and human health.

Participating organizations change over time; the campus' official site lists current partners.

Visiting

Research buildings are working facilities, and not all are open to the public. Look for public-facing events and visitor information on the official campus site rather than assuming tours are available.

Employment

Hiring is done by the individual organizations on campus. Check each organization's own careers page. We don't imply that any employer is hiring, and we're not affiliated with the campus.

How it connects to the rest of the city

The campus sits beside downtown, across the rail corridor from West Avenue and the ballpark, so a visit downtown and a look at the campus' public spaces combine easily. Its presence also shapes the surrounding area's history: the buildings stand where Cannon Mills' main plant once operated.

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History

Cannon Mills

For most of the twentieth century, the mill was the town: employer, landlord and civic patron at once.

Downtown

Downtown Kannapolis

Downtown is a compact, walkable district where a reworked West Avenue meets the ballpark and, a short walk away, the research campus.