Hub RTP projects and campaigns also received multiple award nominations
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (May 4, 2026) — A key leader behind the transformation of Hub RTP, Research Triangle Park (RTP) ‘s vibrant downtown destination, is earning regional recognition as the district continues to gain momentum. Carolyn Coia, vice president of real estate for the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina (Foundation), the nonprofit that stewards RTP, was named the 2026 Rising Leader by Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women (TCREW) at its 27th Annual Champion Awards.
The Rising Leader award recognizes a commercial real estate professional age 40 or younger who exemplifies excellence, delivers high-performance results and consistently exceeds expectations in the industry.
Since joining the Foundation in 2016, Coia has played an integral role in advancing the evolution of North America’s largest research park through the development of Hub RTP as its downtown district. In addition to managing land sales across RTP’s 7,000-acre footprint, she leads real estate strategy and execution within Hub RTP’s 100-acre district. Leasing oversight includes the new Class A office-over-retail development Horseshoe at Hub RTP, which received accolades for Best Development Project during the 2025 TCREW Champion Awards; Boxyard RTP, the hyper-local retail destination made of repurposed shipping containers; Frontier RTP, the office building campus that offers free coworking space and is home to more than one third of Park companies, and more. The mix of projects and property types within Hub RTP is helping to shape a vibrant destination that brings together workplaces, dining, retail and community-driven experiences.
“Carolyn’s vision, drive and collaborative spirit have been instrumental in bringing Hub RTP to life as the Park’s vibrant, downtown destination,” said Scott Levitan, president and CEO, Research Triangle Foundation of N.C. “Her ability to cultivate partnerships, activate spaces and push projects forward continues to position RTP as a dynamic destination for innovation and connection.”
Coia also earned two TCREW Excellence Award nominations for her work with Pure Storage and NC Innovation, both located at 4000 Sancar Way within Hub RTP, further underscoring her leadership and impact across the Triangle’s commercial real estate community.
Additional recognition highlights the district’s broader momentum. At Horseshoe, Nanny Goat Market received nominations for Best Interiors Project (Non-Office) and Most Creative Local Marketing Campaign for its July 2025 grand opening, reflecting a strong focus on placemaking and experience-driven design.
“These nominations reflect the collective energy behind Horseshoe and the broader Hub RTP vision,” said Levitan. “We’re proud to see our partners and projects recognized alongside some of the Triangle region’s most impactful work in real estate and development.”
The TCREW Champion Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in commercial real estate across the Triangle region, honoring projects and professionals who demonstrate excellence, innovation and leadership.
For more information about land and leasing opportunities in RTP, visit https://www.rtp.org/real-estate. Located at 3151 Elion Dr., Horseshoe has 78,000 square feet of Class A office space and 10,000 square feet of retail space that remains available for lease. For more information about Horseshoe at Hub RTP, visit https://horseshoertp.com and follow @horseshoertp.
About Horseshoe at Hub RTP
Developed by White Point in partnership with the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, Horseshoe at Hub RTP serves as the central gathering point within Hub RTP, a 100-acre downtown destination in the core of Research Triangle Park (RTP). The development features office space, experiential retail, dining, recreational amenities and regional trail connectivity in a setting designed to support business activity and community engagement. Tenants and visitors will enjoy 16 acres of greenspace with streamside trails and boardwalks, including Horseshoe’s splash fountain and event lawn. Conveniently located at the center of Research Triangle Park (RTP) between Highway 54 and I-40, directly off the Davis Drive exit, Horseshoe is easily accessible from anywhere in the Triangle. To learn more about Horseshoe at Hub RTP, including leasing opportunities, visit https://horseshoertp.com.
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About Hub RTP
Hub RTP, Research Triangle Park (RTP)’s new vibrant downtown, is a walkable urban district designed to bring people together to work, stay, shop, drink and dine in RTP for the first time in its history. Hub RTP’s current phase will feature up to one million square feet of office and life sciences lab space, 50,000 square feet of experiential retail, 1,200 multifamily residential units and 279 hotel rooms. An impressive 16 acres of parks and greenspace includes the award-winning and eco-friendly Burdens Creek, which connects more than 20 miles of trails in RTP. Centrally located in the heart of the Triangle region (comprised of Durham and Raleigh), the 100-acre district includes Frontier RTP, an innovative startup community, as well as Boxyard RTP, a unique food, retail and entertainment destination. To learn more about Hub RTP and current leasing opportunities, visit https://hub.rtp.org.