by Chantal Allam — June 4, 2021 . RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Heavy rain and the lingering effects of COVID-19 couldn’t keep the crowds away from Boxyard RTP’s soft launch on Thursday afternoon. In what marked a new stage in the Triangle’s re-opening, attendees came out in full force, ditching masks and social distancing to celebrate the “new hub” – a 18,000-square-foot development of retail and dining built from repurposed shipping containers. “We are resourceful, talented, and flexible,” Ray Trapp, Research Triangle Foundation’s (RTF) vice president of strategic engagement, told a 200-strong crowd gathered at 700 Park Offices Drive, just a stone’s throw from the site, after the event was moved indoors because of thunderstorms.