The Abandoned Communications Complex
The local graffiti artists have taken over the exterior with their spray cans.
Among Raleigh’s commercial development areas, along well travelled highways, behind overgrown rows of southern pines, lie left-behind abandonments that most drivers and pedestrians overlook. The haste to arrive at the ‘next place’ has consumed so many that they have forgotten to stop and look around.
An empty guard station, sits in wait, for the crew that will never again report to work.
To the neighborhood kids, these are “known” spots. To the homeless, these are a dry place to rest the head for a night. To the city planners, these are eyesores in need of gentrification.
Vandals have smashed nearly every window.
In North Raleigh, sits a vacant building. Once a 23-acre research and development facility, now a crumbling pile of rain-soaked, drop-ceiling tiles and moldy drywall. While viewing what this building has become, one would never know that this property is valued at over 10 million.
This rusted satellite stands watch over every sunrise and sunset that comes to the city.
Still a vision of beauty in the night.
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09/14/2009
I love the photographs! Fascinating how something so huge can be “lost.”
09/14/2009
Where is this? I’ve live in Raleigh most of my life, and I am an architectural draftsman for DOT. Would love to see this building. Love “no longer used” structures.
I have bookmarked this site. Nice.
Would love to buy something from Adrienne Taylor.
Email me.
Chip
09/15/2009
Is this the old Alcatel Building on Wake Forest Rd. near the Beltline?
09/16/2009
Very nice work. This IS the old Alcatel Building. The guard house with turnstile is on the back side, next to the parking lot. The last two shots are on the roof. How in the world did you get up there?
We catch a bus and ride to the State Fair from the parking lot. I have been anxious to see this site re-developed for a long time. It seems like the time is right, with Costco nearby and the upgrades and new Trader Joe’s at the shopping center next door.
09/17/2009
There is demolition equipment on site – but the owner is in no hurry to sink money yet. This property represents a huge investment, but even someone who can shell out $10M can’t afford demolition instantly. I suspect this will make a lucrative addition to the area shopping and condos… Here’s hoping that posting its name doesn’t bring undue attention to we curious photographers! To the owner: Consider it our last chance to see – it’s the reason I go.
09/17/2009
Chip! I haven’t been able to contact you through email as it comes back saying email failed! You can email me at adrienneallexia@hotmail.com!
09/17/2009
I worked there for 7 years in the eighties. There is a groundwater contamination issue from the printed circuit board shop. I believe there are some wells on site to monitor or clean up this problem. Any development is probably affected by this.
09/17/2009
Ah! Thanks for the information, Bill. I hope I can find information about what it takes to clean up to the epa’s standards. Chip manufacture would explain the industrial appearance…
09/18/2009
No chips, we manufactured telecom carrier systems and switching equipment. The pc shop produced the copper clad
circuit boards, a nasty process.
09/23/2009
Where’ve ya’ll been? My homie and I first explored this place back in 03 and dubbed it Alcatraz due to the fact that it’s name is so close. It was a well used skateboard spot until the bums destroyed our hard work and stole all of the metal for beer and crack money… awesome right…? Well these photos are ok but of course there aren’t enough photos of the ill-ass graffiti everywhere or ANY photos of the equally spaced-out equal height shit marks some bum made on the wall. Oh and by the way… there is a system of tunnels underneath the building if you venture deep enough into the labryinth
01/24/2011
Is this building still there? and is it still abandoned?
i am looking for some places to do photo shoots with a couple models and cars
12/09/2011
They tore it down …. :(
01/06/2012
NO! Its still there. I am working for a company and NOW we are demolishing it, 4 days into it, and its a 3 month job. Its like a damn hidden temple with graffiti. Its gives me the creeps
02/14/2012
Where are those tunnel entrances? I’ve been there twice, searched the building straight through and never saw anything to suggest there being entrances to a lower level. No basement no nothing. I’ll have to look again.
03/07/2012
the tunnels are drain tunnels that can be accessed from the front right of the property. i actually know the owner, and have been able to see it transform to the wreck it is now. i was there the day he bought it, and it is still being torn down. it has been quite a fun place to mess around, but ever since the power was cut it has become sketchier and sketchier, i dont even like going inside anymore, its just creepy. that being said cool photos, i bet you have many more, i myself have some sweet ones, until the teardown the outside gave almost a chernobyl feel to it.
06/10/2014
I believe that building started life as IT&T (International Telephone and Telegraph?).
10/05/2015
Worked there from 1977 til 2001. Hope some use has finally been made of the land. Was a shame to see it rotting out in the open. Was used as a Halloween fun house a few times in the early 2000’s. Underneath the building was a huge storage pond used with the HVAC system once upon a time. Make cold water at night during lower power rates, AC with cold water in the day when the rates are high. :) At it’s peak as ITT the campus contained over 4000 employees. Bldg D on Industrial Dr. and Bldg K on Front street were also part of the site. The operation was a causality of NAFTA. RIP