DRI Research Park: Northern Nevada's Dedicated Research Park

OPPORTUNITY IN NORTHERN NEVADA’S DEDICATED RESEARCH PARK

For the first time, a world-class, full-service research park, adjacent to an internationally-acclaimed scientific research institution is available for tenants. The DRI Research Park offers proximity to DRI, whose scientific efforts focus on issues relating to air, water, earth, fire and the development of new science-focused professionals.

The DRI Research Park provides users with a unique competitive advantage of access to world-renowned environmental research faculty and other park clients including the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Collaboration with DRI also provides users with a broad base of federal research funding sources, unique laboratories and facilities and a commitment to partner with companies in the sectors of Environmental Science, Clean Tech, Life Science, and Advanced Computing & Modeling.

Located in the hills overlooking downtown Reno and the Sierra Nevada mountains, the DRI Research Park is a 328-acre site located approximately six miles north of the Reno Tahoe International Airport. The Research Park’s prime amenity is its adjacency to the Desert Research Institute (DRI), Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), and specialized facilities of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).

Contact:  Peter Ross  |  775.673.7388  |  Peter.Ross@DRI.edu 

Researcher using equipment in a lab.

DRI atmospheric scientists conduct fundamental and applied research including high-quality and cost-effective collection and analysis of trace organic contaminants and hazardous pollutants in ambient air and other environmental samples.

Rendering of the building at an angel.
Rendering of the building from the corner.
Rendering of each side of the building.

PHASE ONE

Building 1 will be designed to be harmonious with the surrounding landscape. The building preserves the unique characteristics of this site, especially the various rock outcrops. Building arrangements limit the site impact, capture views, create well-protected outdoor spaces and optimize building orientation for social engagement and share uses such as cafes, conferencing, informal gathering and hangout spaces, libraries and more.

Pedestrian courtyards outside of Building 1 will link the primary building entries and shared use areas, provide patrons with views and vistas of the Truckee Meadows, and offer comfortable environments sheltered from the sun and wind. The tenant will be within a five-minute walk of the DRI campus, with a well-defined pedestrian connection across Raggio Parkway. The outdoor spaces are also linked to the Research Park trail system, connecting pedestrians to other zones or the undeveloped open space.

Hand drawn map of the area with building 1 highlighted

BUILDING 1 PROPERTY FEATURES

  • +/- 20,700 SF (Divisible into 5,000 SF units)
  • +/- 2.5 acres
  • MY/DRC (Mixed Use/Dandini Region Center Zoning Overlay
  • District) Zoning Designation
  • Access to U.S. 285 and Interstate 80
  • +/- 4 miles north of Downtown Reno
  • +/- 6 miles north of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport
  • Located with the City of Reno’s Dandini Regional Center Plan, which was established to promote higher intensity of development in identified centers and transit corridors Direct access to DRI resources
Map of Research Park Building One with Roadway and parking lot.

ABOUT DRI

In 1959, the Nevada State Legislature passed Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 396.795, creating a division of the University of Nevada system specifically devoted to conducting research.

Map of Reno/Tahoe area highlighting DRI, UNR, Tesla, and Switch

$60 MILLION IN SPONSORED RESEARCH

600+ SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF

300+ PROJECTS

140+ PHD RESEARCH FACULTY

40 SPECIALIZED LABS & FACILITIES

$9 IN TOTAL ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO NEVADA FOR EVERY $1 IN STATE FUNDING

TWO RESEARCH CAMPUSES

ONE MISSION TO ADVANCE SCIENCE AND APPLY SOLUTIONS

DRI AND DRI RESEARCH PARK MILESTONES

Established in 1959 by the Nevada State Legislature, the Desert Research Institute (DRI) emerged from a visionary collaboration of scientists, academics and entrepreneurs dedicated to advancing research.

In 1969, DRI became an independent division of the Nevada System of Higher Education, alongside the state’s educational campuses.

Through efforts led by Alessandro Dandini, then Marshal of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), the DRI Research Park was officially recognized by the Bureau of Land Management in 1972.

Despite initial limitations on development, DRI attracted its first tenant, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in 1992, securing a renewable lease through 2052.

Advocating for amendments to the original land patents, DRI successfully lobbied for legislative changes in 2005, enabling commercial development of the Research Park.

Since then, DRI Research Park has actively promoted and advanced the Park through strategic marketing and development initiatives.

Researcher taking notes along a river with testing equipment.

DRI TODAY

Over 600 skilled professionals including scientists, engineers, technicians, students, and staff collaborate across three research divisions and a STEM Education program.

Focused on critical scientific inquiries such as global climate change, water availability and quality, air quality, desert land sustainability, life in extreme environments, education and STEM.

DRI  MILESTONES:

Internationally acclaimed, DRI has achieved success in scientific solutions all over the world, from the research related to the Terracotta Warriors in Xi-an China, to ice core research around the globe, to wildfire and heat impacts affecting vulnerable communities around the United States. DRI is working to solve the most challenging environmental issues in the world today.

Researcher looking at a terracotta soldier being preserved.

AIR

DRI scientists’ atmospheric research includes air quality and associated health risks, cloud and aerosol physics, atmospheric chemistry, climate, renewable energy, fire science, atmospheric dynamics and potential climate intervention strategies to reduce global warming impacts. DRI scientists are working to improve air quality by reducing haze at National Parks across the country, and they collaborated to help preserve the Terracotta army, artifacts that date to 221 BC that were deteriorating due to poor air quality.

DRI Truck in the snow pulled up along side a Cloud Seeding generator.

WATER

DRI is a pioneer and recognized leader in the science of wintertime cloud seeding, developing research-based methods for increasing winter snowpack and subsequent snowmelt runoff across mountainous regions of the Western U.S. Cloud seeding can increase seasonal snowpack by up to 10 percent, depending on atmospheric conditions. DRI’s scientists and technicians work year-round to design, maintain, and operate successful cloud-seeding projects for state, local and federal partner agencies.

Two researchers looking at the plants being grown in the EcoCells greenhouse.

EARTH

DRI scientists are researching the complex interactions of geological processes, organisms, biological communities and human societies. Specific research areas include anthropology; archaeology; paleoecology; biological, health, and geological sciences; and remote sensing, GIS and visualization.

Researcher flying a drone into an active wildfire.

FIRE

From providing fire weather data to analyzing the impacts of wildfires on air quality and soils, DRI scientists are working to develop a holistic understanding of wildfires through projects that harness DRI’s broad expertise and capabilities in areas such as remote sensing, air pollution, atmospheric dynamics, hydrology and soil sciences.

Three students on the floor working with robots in a STEM outreach activity.

PEOPLE

DRI’s STEM Education fosters scientific and engineering talent and literacy through education and workforce development, teaching the fundamentals to help boost confidence in Nevada teachers and students. Our Research Immersion Internship Program works toward our diversity mission, offering community college students a paid opportunity to work alongside DRI scientists through hands-on research.

Map of DRI headquarters, the collaborative core, and upper partnership zone.

DRI  RESEARCH PARK 328 ACRE OVERVIEW

Located in the hills overlooking downtown Reno, the DRI Research Park is a 328-acre site situated six miles north of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The Research Park’s prime amenity is its adjacency to the Desert Research Institute (DRI), Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) and specialized facilities of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).

Available Now

Inside the 328 Acre DRI Research Park:

Collaborative Core: 12 Acres
Upper Partnership Zone: 35 Acres

COLLABORATIVE CORE: 12 ACRES

The Collaborative Core serves as the premier location to foster collaboration with DRI, Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) and the University of Nevada, Reno’s (UNR). Located just south of both campuses along Raggio Parkway, the framework for the development is similar to a campus model. The buildings are organized around a common open space dedicated for pedestrians with a direct link to DRI and Truckee Meadows Community College via a pedestrian walkway. The parking for this development is assembled centrally to the proposed buildings.

The design intent for the Collaborative Core is to arrange the buildings to promote social and intellectual interaction, foster collaboration and encourage the exchange of ideas. These outdoor spaces and rooms become important adjuncts to the program inside the buildings and support the mission of the DRI Research Park. Buildings shall be situated within the campus to work with the natural topography and maximize views of the Truckee Meadows. A pedestrian circulation system consists of sidewalks, paths and off-road trails connecting these outdoor rooms to each other, to the existing trail system and park’s open space. The trail system offers an open space amenity including scenic vistas, for employees, faculty, staff, students and visitors.

Downtown Reno with the sun shining and the mountains and clouds in the distance.

The DRI Research Park is in the hills, with stunning views of the snow-capped mountains and downtown Reno. It is approximately six miles north of the Reno Tahoe International Airport and adjacent to DRI, Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) and the University of Nevada, Reno’s (UNR) specialized facilities.

ABOUT NORTHERN NEVADA REGION

With its expanding technology ecosystem, the Reno-Tahoe region is primed for growth. More California companies are relocating here to reduce operating costs and establish a presence in a conducive environment for business expansion, all while offering their employees a lower cost of living.

Clear blue water of lake tahoe with pine trees and mountains in the distance.

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) reports that one-third of recent companies migrating to Reno are coming from California and identifies California as a key target market for workforce and business development.

EDAWN also has a specific focus on development and cultivation of entrepreneurship, in addition to business attraction and retention. They believe in the fertile environment that northern Nevada offers for entrepreneurs and technology firms.

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) can provide incentives for businesses relocating to Nevada. From general incentives that encourage private sector firms in diverse industries to create jobs, invest in communities and strengthen local industries, to specific programs for both data centers and aviation/aerospace categories, GOED can assist relocating and expanding companies.

With diverse industry sectors of EV/clean energy, advanced manufacturing, technology ecosystem, logistics, e-commerce, aerospace and health & medicine, Nevada is positioned as a tech hub. Companies that have gravitated to this environment include Redwood Materials, Nanotech Energy, Dragonfly Energy Corporation and others in the region. Industry diversity throughout the region also includes Switch, Hamilton Company, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Charles River, Henry Schein, Trex, Polaris, NOW Foods, nZero, New Deantronics, ElementalLED, American Battery Technology Company, Arrow, Aquametals, Chewy, Google, Amazon and Apple.

ABOUT RENO, NEVADA

With its expanding technology ecosystem, the Reno-Tahoe region is primed for growth. More California companies are relocating here to reduce operating costs and establish a presence in a conducive environment for business expansion, all while offering their employees a lower cost of living.

Positioned in the western United States, Reno serves as a strategic hub for businesses aiming to access markets across the region, including major cities like San Francisco, Sacramento and Salt Lake City.

Experiencing significant economic growth in recent years, Reno is driven by diverse industries such as technology, advanced manufacturing and tourism, providing abundant opportunities for businesses to thrive and expand.

With the construction of the Tesla gigafactory 20 minutes east of Reno, the Northern Nevada region is poised to be a 21st century leader in the area of advanced manufacturing and innovation.

Forecasts estimate $100 billion in regional economic impact over the next 20 years from the Tesla site alone.

Proximity to higher education options, such as the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) – Tier 1, R1 Carnegie Research institution school- and the growing population of skilled professionals attracted to the area’s affordability and quality of life, offer businesses access to a talented workforce across many sectors.

Map of western states highlighting where Reno. is located in Northern Nevada.

WHY RENO

RENO RANKINGS

BusinessInsider.com
Reno Top 15 “Hottest” real estate markets for the next decade

Milken Institute
Reno ranked #4 Best-performing large Metro area in the United States in 2020

INC.com
Top destination for tech founders leaving Silicon Valley

Site Selectors Guild
Reno one of top communities for Site Selectors

WalletHub
Reno ranked #13 “Best City to Start a Business”

Niche
Reno is ranked #18 as one of the best cities in 2022 for outdoor activities in the United States

Realtor.com
Reno ranked #7 among “Top Emerging Housing Markets”

U.S. News
Nevada ranked #1 state for infrastructure

U.S. News
Nevada ranked #6 state with the best economy

Downtown Reno with snowcapped mountains in the distance.

WHEN YOU DO BUSINESS IN RENO, NEVADA

  • No Corporate Income Tax
  • No Inventory Tax
  • No Franchise Tax
  • No Personal Income Tax
  • No Inheritance Tax
  • No Estate Tax
  • No Unitary Tax
  • No Intangibles Tax

COMPLEMENTARY INDUSTRIES FOR
DRI RESEARCH PARK

In keeping with the key areas of research and scientific solutions that are the focus of DRI – Air, Water, People, Earth and Fire – there are natural synchronicities for companies moving into the DRI Research Park. Here are just a few industry segments that would find the science collegiality and technology offered through DRI beneficial:

LIFE SCIENCES/HEALTH SCIENCES

DRI has a growing research focus at the nexus of environmental exposure and human health. Complimentary firms could specialize in health-related research and drug development as well as tools for monitoring health.

AIR/WATER/SOIL SENSOR AND MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Instrument developers and manufacturers in areas of environmental interest provide the most closely overlapping complement to DRI.

GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE, SENSING, ANALYSIS

Almost all research at DRI has a component of spatial analysis. Complimentary firms could specialize in a range of topics including remote sensing, resource mapping, and spatial analytics.

DRI sign with desert landscaping and blue sky.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND MODELING SERVICES

A range of environmental services includes consulting companies, modeling services, modeling software and climate/ financial and other risk assessment services.

BATTERY VALUE CHAIN

Modern battery manufacturing starts with extracting lithium and other minerals, often from brines, processing the raw lithium into usable forms, encapsulating materials into a battery form and recycling battery materials into new batteries. Research, development and testing firms working at any point in this value chain would offer complementarity to DRI.