Durham Tech opens new location in downtown Durham Chesterfield Building

Durham Tech has launched a new downtown Durham location.

The Durham Tech Small Business Center and Corporate Education department is now housed in the redeveloped Chesterfield Building in the 700 block of West Main Street.

The new location officially opened with a reception on Tuesday, Dec. 4.

“The Chesterfield, with its focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, is a great fit for our Small Business Center and Corporate Services team,” said Beth Payne, Dean and Department Head of Corporate Services at Durham Tech. “The new location has a mix of offices, a computer lab, classroom and collaboration space, as well as a resource library for small business owners and entrepreneurs.”

The Corporate Education department at Durham Tech offers continuing education and training to organizations, covering such topics including management and leadership development, interpersonal skills, communications, and employee health and safety.

The Small Business Center at Durham Tech is part of the North Carolina Small Business Center Network and provides courses and advice on marketing, sales and business plans; technical assistance; and business seminars.

“We view our role in this community as providing talent that will enable local employers to continue to fuel our vibrant economy, and the two functions that are housed here in the Chesterfield building are sharply focused on that imperative,” said Dr. Bill Ingram, President of Durham Tech, during the opening reception Tuesday.

The six-story Chesterfield Building was originally built in 1948 and operated as a cigarette manufacturing factory for the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company. After being vacant for nearly 20 years, Wexford Science + Technology redeveloped the property in 2017.

Other tenants include Duke University, BioLabs NC, Nutanix, and Validic.

“We look forward to bringing our services for corporate clients, students, and entrepreneurs to The Chesterfield and to have the opportunity to forge new and stronger partnerships that support our business community,” Payne said. ”There is so much history and so much potential – and the amazing atrium. We’re excited about our future at The Chesterfield.”

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