Jan. 17. Groundbreaking for “The Pearl” innovation district and Wake Forest University School of Medicine Charlotte takes place this morning at 10, with executives from Atrium Health, Wake Forest and Wexford Science and Technology LLC as well as elected officials.

The 26-acre site near Baxter and South McDowell will one day have four towers, street-level retail, up to 1,000 apartments and a hotel, as well as the medical school.

The first class of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Charlotte will be seated in 2024. Charlotte is the largest U.S. city without a four-year medical school