Centennial Building Named for Poulton
The Corporate Research I building on Centennial Campus has been renamed the Poulton Innovation Center in honor of NC State’s 10th chancellor, Bruce Poulton.
Poulton was honored with the placement of a plaque on the building commemorating the name change. He was also given a tour of the facility, which houses private companies and university offices. Joining him on the tour were family and friends.
The Poulton Innovation Center is a three-story structure located in the heart of Centennial. Opened in 1991, the building is now home to the ABB Smart Grid Center of Excellence and the Springboard Innovation Hub, a mix of university departments that cater to research and corporate partners. Located on the second floor, the hub holds the Centennial Campus Partnership Office, Office of Technology Transfer, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Venture Services and the Small Business Technology and Development Center.
Poulton was the chancellor of NC State from 1982 to 1989. During his tenure, he was largely responsible for getting Centennial Campus off the ground. He earned his degrees in animal science at Rutgers University and served on the faculty of Rutgers and the University of Maine before entering academic administration. Prior to becoming chancellor at NC State, Poulton was chancellor of the university system of New Hampshire.
