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.
Sign up for the Newsletter
Subscribe to RSS feed
Receive updates by Email
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
John Morris
Raleigh Boy
Devin McKim
Sid Fowler
uliveandyouburn
Adrienne Taylor
Ian F.G. Dunn
Ben Spiker
Paul Friedrich
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