Cook Medical signed a letter of intent with the Whitaker Park Development Authority Inc. to acquire a former R.J. Reynolds Plant facility at Whitaker Park in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Since 1963 Cook Medical has worked closely with clinicians to develop technologies that eliminate the need for open surgery. The company said it combines medical devices, biologic materials and cellular therapies to help the world's healthcare systems deliver better outcomes more efficiently.

The company plans to transform a portion of the former R.J. Reynolds building, which stopped production in 2012, into a world-class medical device manufacturing facility. Built in 1961, the 850,000 square-foot facility will be home to Cook Medical’s current workforce of more than 650 employees in Winston-Salem. With a history of revitalizing once-vacant buildings, Cook said it plans to invest in the property so it will once again be an economic driver for the community.

“To turn part of the R.J. Reynolds building into a life-saving and life-changing medical device manufacturing facility is an exciting transformation,” said Barry Slowey, President of Cook Medical’s Winston-Salem facility. “We’re proud to reinvest in the community, the history and the local economy.”

“We need the new space to modernize and transform our operations and manufacturing that will continue providing innovative technologies to help treat patients around the world,” Slowey continued. “The flexibility that the R.J. Reynolds space provides will allow us to purpose build for efficiency in our production lines.”

The completion of the acquisition is subject to certain conditions, including inspections of the property and finalization of agreements with the City of Winston-Salem, Forsyth County and the state of North Carolina and is expected to occur in the third quarter of this calendar year.