Since Blue Cross Blue Shield was founded in Dallas in 1929, it made sense to company leaders that the city’s Historic West End would serve as a launching point for their firm’s future. Hence, the C1 Innovation Lab — located in a 114-year-old former cracker and candy manufacturing building — is ground zero for outside-of-the-box company problem-solving.
Take a visual tour below, and read more about how the C1 Innovation Lab landed in Dallas’ Historic West End here.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield C1 Innovation center takes two floors in Granite’s Factory Six03 — the 114-year-old former site of the Brown Cracker & Candy Co.
Visitors, collaborators and employees readily see a timeline that displays the building’s history.
Blue Cross Blue Shield honored the “building’s DNA” in the innovation space’s design, which includes exposed brick, original flooring and plenty of open space for collaboration.
Granite Properties developed the former Brown Candy & Cracker Co. building — now called Factory Six03 — with the intention of attracting younger, creative thinkers.
Welcome to the C1 Innovation Lab
A light display greets visitors with changing color.
Summer Wright Collins, Blue Cross Blue Shield divisional vice president of design and innovation, led the tour of the C1 Innovation Lab.
C1 offers a mix of collaboration space and private areas
A central point, located at the center of the C1 Innovation Lab, serves as gathering space for regular team meetings, where individuals can discuss what they’re working on. Other areas offer a mix of private and open working conditions.
Individual workspaces are designed for ergonomics
Space is designed to inspire creativity and collaboration
Common areas offer a place to relax
[Photos: Dallas Innovates]
R E A D N E X T
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Five local winners received up to $200,000 in funding to activate their solutions throughout North Texas.
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The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, which passed in May, has the power to develop 20 tech hubs throughout the United States. According to Tech Titans' CEO Bill Sproull, Dallas-Fort Worth could be a strong contender for one of those spots.
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Lessons from high-growth companies.
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With five new UT Dallas research centers, an extension of the university's Venture Development Center, and new attractions like TheLab makerspace, The IQ may just realize Richardson's vision to be "the premier tech hub in Texas."
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Dallas' C1 Innovation Lab, operated by Health Care Services Corporation (which owns Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas), has entered into a collaboration with early-stage investor Capital Factory to help Texas entrepreneurs explore, address, and pilot solutions that serve BCBSTX members. The end goal is to engage with new technologies and local entrepreneurs on the cutting edge of healthcare innovation.
![Erica Kosemund, Chief Brand Officer, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Gillian Breidenbach, Chief Partnership Officer, North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; Chief Gary Batton, Chief of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Monica Paul, Executive Director of Dallas Sports Commission and President of North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; John Hobbs, Senior Executive Officer of Communications, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and Heidi Grant, Senior Executive Officer of Commerce Administration, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, celebrate Choctaw Casinos & Resorts becoming an Official Dallas World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter. [Photo: North Texas FWC Organizing Committee/Choctaw Casinos & Resorts]](https://s24806.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FIFA-Choctaw-dec-2025-75x69.jpg)
![Erica Kosemund, Chief Brand Officer, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Gillian Breidenbach, Chief Partnership Officer, North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; Chief Gary Batton, Chief of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Monica Paul, Executive Director of Dallas Sports Commission and President of North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; John Hobbs, Senior Executive Officer of Communications, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and Heidi Grant, Senior Executive Officer of Commerce Administration, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, celebrate Choctaw Casinos & Resorts becoming an Official Dallas World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter. [Photo: North Texas FWC Organizing Committee/Choctaw Casinos & Resorts]](https://s24806.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FIFA-Choctaw-dec-2025.jpg)
