Public Meeting on Duke Campus Expansion

The Duke University community and the general public can get a closer look at the university's revised campus expansion plan at an open meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, in the Nasher Museum of Art auditorium.

Provost Peter Lange and representatives from Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects (PCPA) will discuss general design plans and outline possibilities for academic, recreational and residential space. The meeting will be moderated by Phail Wynn, Duke's vice president for Durham and regional affairs. Few details of the 50-75 year plan have been decided, and Wednesday's meeting is designed to get community feedback about the plan's goals and directions.

The university released general design plans last week that would focus Phase I development along Campus Drive. Information about the plan can be found in a news release posted here. A campus expansion website has been posted here.

The plan follows zoning and building guidelines for the campus expansion that Duke previously had agreed to in discussions with the City of Durham.

The development will include residences for as many as 1,400 undergraduate students, graduate students and visiting faculty. The residential spaces will "encourage inter-generational interaction," and are expected to consist mainly of apartments along with some suites and dorm facilities.

Academically, the plan identifies space for the arts, humanities, international programs and other purposes. These include the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies; international services; language, literature and culture departments; visual and performing arts programs and theater spaces; a library resource center that focuses on the visual arts; classrooms and study rooms; and one or more centers for alumni, career planning and visitors.

Other university officials, including Vice President for Campus Services Kemel Dawkins, will be on hand Wednesday to answer questions from audience members.