The HUB Station celebrated an exciting milestone on February 27 with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new elevator and renovated stairwell at the McCreary Family Business Center on the HUB Station campus.
Previously, the Business Center was only accessible by stairs. The new elevator now provides improved accessibility for visitors, employees, and tenants who utilize the facility.
-
The orginal stairwell
-
The project was supported by Blue Ridge Energy, whose continued support of the HUB Station helped make the improvement possible.
“We want to extend a huge thank you to Blue Ridge Energy for continuing to be such a strong supporter of the HUB Station,” said HUB Station Director Addie Faber. “A few years ago they also contributed to the elevator project in our Arts Center. With the completion of the elevator in our Business Center, all multi-story facilities across the HUB Station campus are now handicap accessible. It means so much to see how they continue to give back to Caldwell County. The mission of the HUB Station is to be an asset to the community by promoting and cultivating creativity and business, and this improvement allows us to fully embrace those goals for everyone.”
-
Exterior elevator shaft during construction
-
The orginal stairwell exit being converted to the main floor elevator access
-
Building the elevator from the ground up
The Town of Hudson also recognized the partners who helped complete the project, including Wilkie Construction, the project contractor, and Talley & Smith Architecture, who designed the renovations.
“This is a great addition to our Business Center and enhances what we can offer to our business community,” said Hudson Town Manager Jon Greer. “Projects like this are only made possible through partnerships with outstanding community partners like Blue Ridge Energy.”
While the elevator installation is the most visible change, it was part of a larger improvement project funded through an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant awarded to the Town of Hudson. The grant also allowed for several important upgrades to the facility, including HVAC improvements, bathroom renovations, parking lot improvements, and a new montiored fire alarm system.
The McCreary Family Business Center is home to ten individual business tenants, including the Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute Small Business Center, which provides valuable support and resources for entrepreneurs throughout the region.
These upgrades help ensure the Business Center continues to serve as an important hub for business development and innovation in Hudson.
The HUB Station and Town of Hudson are grateful to all partners who helped make the project possible and look forward to continuing to support the growth of local businesses and the community for years to come.
