Upstate takes a look at plans for automotive research center

SUSAN ORR, Staff Writer

Business leaders and elected officials got a glimpse of the Upstate's automotive future Tuesday evening.

The crowd of several hundred gathered at the Peace Center for the first official master-plan presentation of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. The 250-acre site is located in Greenville at the intersection of Laurens Road and I-85.

During the multimedia presentation, planners didn't talk about how many jobs ICAR might create.

Instead, they focused on how the project, which will include everything from classrooms to research labs to housing and recreation, could boost the state's economy, image and intellectual resources.

Gov. Mark Sanford said the project allows South Carolina to strengthen its automotive cluster, which should lead to even broader economic success.

"There'll be a lot of employment opportunities here that wouldn't have otherwise been here before," Sanford said.

"What we see here is planning the stage for a whole lot of future successes."

Even beyond economics, ICAR is important because it shows that South Carolina can move beyond its reputation as a poor, underachieving state, said Clemson University President Jim Barker.

"Clemson-ICAR says, 'To heck with that (image). Look what we can do in South Carolina. Why don't you join us?' "

Clemson, BMW, Michelin, Microsoft, IBM and the Society of Automotive Engineers are partnering on the project, whose purpose is to combine graduate-level engineering education with private-sector research and development. Public and private donors have already pledged more than $100 million toward the project.

"Few projects have created the excitement, the support and the financial commitment that Clemson-ICAR has generated. It has been called the

most significant economic development initiative since BMW came to South Carolina," Barker said.

ICAR will consist of five "hilltop villages" -- clusters of development surrounded by natural areas and connected by bridges and walkways.

"This is Clemson-ICAR, and it's not just any development project," said Bob Geolas, ICAR's executive director.

"It's a new-generation academic research campus."

The first piece of the puzzle will be BMW's Information Technology Research Center, set to open in August.

Late this year, construction should begin on the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center. The center is named after the former S.C. governor credited with helping lure BMW to South Carolina.

The 90,000 square-foot facility, which will house office, classroom and laboratory space for graduate-level engineering study, should be ready for use in 2007, Geolas said.

Geolas said the entire development, which could change from current plans, will likely fill out over the next 15 to 20 years.

Susan Orr can be reached at 562-7270 or susan.orr@shj.com.