Commons visitors can gather and collaborate around six interactive tables in the Ideas Area, where ways to address the challenges facing North Carolina are born and discussed.

A nine-minute, multi-screen Overture film introduces visitors to the landscapes of North Carolina, both cultural and environmental, while communicating the vision of the Commons.

The Partners Wall recognizes those whose support made the Emerging Issues Commons possible and who support IEI in its ongoing endeavors.

As a centerpiece to the space and beacon to attract visitors, the Pulse is an 82-foot hanging sculpture that displays a stream of relevant, up-to-date information including statistics, quotes, tweets, and news.

Statistical data is ultimately about real people. To capture the lives and voices behind the big data, Second Story hit the road to film on location throughout the state.