Master planners

Clemson has named the architects and planners who will shape a 250-acre tract of Greenville land into the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research.

SmithGroup of Washington, D.C., leads the design effort, along with Neal Prince & Partners of Greenville and Andropogon Associates of Philadelphia. They will develop a research campus powered by some of the best resources of the University and its corporate partners including BMW Manufacturing, Michelin, Microsoft and IBM.

Master Planners David R.H. King, FAIA, board chairman of SmithGroup, speaks for his firm, which will lead the design effort for shaping the Clemson-ICAR site.

“The final product should be more like a college campus than an industrial park because what sets this campus apart is its academic core,” says Clemson-ICAR director Bob Geolas. “Our tenants will have unprecedented access to University talent and facilities.”

The firms — a unique assembly of architects, engineers, and planning and design professionals — are working with University officials, community representatives, public officials and corporate partners to develop a master plan for the site.

The first phase began in late 2004 with planners conducting a site survey and assessment. A 2005 report will detail goals and planning parameters for the overall project.

Prior to physical work on the site, Clemson and BMW consulted experts from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and renowned naturalist Rudy Mancke for advice on plantings to preserve wildlife habitat, protect against erosion and help create an environmentally friendly setting.

The first building at the Clemson-ICAR site is under construction now, the 80,000-square-foot Information Technology Research Center to be completed this year. Construction also begins early this year on the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center that will serve as the cornerstone of the campus.

Director of innovation and public policy

David L. Bodde has been named director of innovation and public policy for Clemson-ICAR and senior fellow of the Spiro Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. He has extensive experience in energy policy and innovation, especially in creating new ventures with technology.

Bodde’s current work focuses on the role of entrepreneurs in the innovation and commercialization of energy technologies. He has led numerous studies involving nuclear energy, coal, synthetic fuels, electric utilities, renewable energy technologies and commercialization. He recently served as chairman of the Environmental Management Board, advising the Department of Energy on the cleanup of the U.S. nuclear weapons complex. He’s also a member of the National Research Council Board on Energy and Environmental Systems.

Economic development leader

Upstate economic development leader and alumnus Sam Konduros '85 has joined Clemson-ICAR as a consultant. He’s the former head of the Upstate Alliance, an economic development organization that markets 10 Upstate counties.

Konduros will help develop integrated marketing, economic development and corporate growth strategies for the startup phase of the Clemson-ICAR project. His experience leading the Upstate Alliance and in the launch of two high-tech automotive manufacturing corporations complements his expertise from five years at the S.C. Department of Commerce in international business. He’s also a licensed attorney and is active in community service.

Real estate director

Alumnus John V. Boyette Jr. ’65 joined Clemson-ICAR as real estate director last fall. Boyette has 36 years of management experience in the design and construction industry and is a well-respected local business executive with extensive national experience.

Boyette will be responsible for the planning, development and management of all Clemson-ICAR property. He will oversee ground leases, space leases and property exchanges; maintain maps and property; and lease databases for property transactions and land-planning purposes. Boyette, formerly of Design Strategies, has been involved in large projects for Furman, Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, Greenville Hospital System, Shriners Hospital and Clemson.