June 3rd, 2026
Grand Stair at the new AU@ATC | Credit: Monica Slaney (photographie:fourseven)
American Underground Returns Home to American Tobacco Campus
Durham’s premier startup and coworking community celebrates a full-circle homecoming with a Grand Opening event
DURHAM, N.C. (June 3, 2026) — American Underground (AU), dubbed the “Startup Hub of the South” by CNBC and home to more than 275 companies, today officially opens its newest location at the American Tobacco Campus (ATC) at 324 Blackwell Street, Suite 900 in Durham. To celebrate the milestone, AU is hosting a Grand Opening event from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. The Grand Opening marks the completion of a journey that began in 2010, when American Underground first launched in the basement of this very campus.
“Sixteen years ago, we took a bet on Durham’s entrepreneurial spirit, and Durham paid it back tenfold,” said Michael Goodmon, Executive Vice President at Capitol Broadcasting Company. “Coming back to the American Tobacco Campus feels less like a return and more like an arrival. This space is everything we imagined AU could be one day, and then some.”
Upstairs coworking at the new AU@ATC | Credit: Monica Slaney (photographie:fourseven)
A Space Built for the Next Chapter
Today, AU is home to a community of more than 275 companies, from pre-seed startups to established growth-stage businesses. Increasingly, that community includes a growing wave of independent creatives, remote workers, and freelancers.
“We’ve always been a place for founders, but what we’re seeing now is that the AU community is much bigger than startups alone,” said Amanda Dozier, Strategic Growth Manager for American Underground. “Designers, consultants, remote employees, and makers are finding that AU gives them the community and energy they’d otherwise be missing. We made sure the new ATC space was designed for all of them.”
Located across Bay 9 and 10 in ATC’s Washington Building, the 40,000 square-foot workspace was designed by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and built by Consigli Construction.
The new location features:
- Open coworking and customizable private offices
- A botanical library
- A fully equipped podcasting studio
- Meeting and collaboration rooms
- Flexible memberships and leasing options for growing teams
- Playful design elements that nod to AU’s history and Durham’s roots
Regular programming begins on June 18th with a Free Coworking Day and Synthesize, a Juneteenth celebration event from 5:00pm to 8:00pm in partnership with Code the Dream. AU will continue to activate the space all year through a curated calendar of events, panels, mentorship sessions, and networking opportunities in partnership with Google and the Fidelity Center for Advanced Technology (FCAT). Prior to its official opening, AU@ATC served as a host location for Raleigh-Durham Startup Week in April 2026.
The new AU at American Tobacco Campus places members at the heart of Durham’s sports and entertainment district, steps from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and DPAC and neighbor to restaurants, retailers, and makers that have defined ATC for more than two decades. AU’s continued partnership with local favorites Fullsteam, Ment Beverage Co., and Boricua Soul deepen those roots, connecting members to the culture and community that make the campus more than just a place to work.
“American Underground has always been part of the ATC story,” said Eli Bell, Director of Leasing and Asset Management at CBC Real Estate. “Having them back on campus is exactly the kind of element that makes ATC more than real estate. The AU brings programming, energy, and connection that adds to and reinforces the larger community at ATC.”
Goodmon added that this move is a full-circle moment of reinvention at the American Tobacco Campus. “The space where AU started 16 years ago is now the home of the Cristo Rey High School, which has a unique educational model that creates college pathways and professional opportunities for young people of limited economic means,” he said. “How cool would it be if a Cristo Rey alum went on to start a new business out of American Underground one day? That’s my dream.”
American Underground and American Tobacco Campus are both part of CBC Real Estate, a division of Capitol Broadcasting Company. Their shared history and commitment to fueling inclusive innovation continue to shape the next chapter of Durham’s economic growth.
Learn more: www.americanunderground.com
About American Underground
American Underground is where Durham’s entrepreneurs come to build, connect, and grow. Dubbed the “Startup Hub of the South” by CNBC, AU is a coworking community supporting a diverse mix of innovators, creators, and change makers through shared workspace, meaningful connections, and programs designed to help startups thrive. AU is home to more than 275 companies, from pre-seed startups to growth-stage businesses, as well as a growing community of independent creatives, remote workers, and freelancers. AU operates three locations in downtown Durham, including its new home at the American Tobacco Campus. AU is proud to be part of CBC Real Estate, a division of Capitol Broadcasting Company.
About CBC Real Estate
CBC Real Estate (CBC), a division of Capitol Broadcasting Company, is a leading developer, owner, and operator of historic and mixed-use properties across North and South Carolina. Since 2001, CBC has developed over three million square feet of office, multifamily, and retail space. Notable projects include the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, NC; Bandwidth Inc.’s headquarters in Raleigh, NC; MoJud Lofts in Greensboro, NC; Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC; and The Thread in Rock Hill, SC. Proudly based in Durham, North Carolina, CBC Real Estate is dedicated to strengthening communities through purposeful and impactful development.