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Site Work Begins on New East Campus Dorm

80,000-square foot building to be completed in 2018

This rendering shows how the new residence hall on East Campus will look once completed. Construction is expected to finish in 2018.
This rendering shows how the new residence hall on East Campus will look once completed. Construction is expected to finish in 2018.

Construction crews have begun initial site preparation on East Campus for a new residence hall that will be built starting this fall.

For the last two weeks, fence poles have been installed around the circumference of the construction site, which sits adjacent to Bell Tower and Southgate residence hall near the intersection of Broad and Main streets.

Virginia Norton, project manager with Duke’s Facilities Management Department, said immediate work only includes setting up the fence and bringing in a construction site trailer that will act as office space for contractors. Site preparations will last until October, when construction is expected to begin on the project.

Once completed in early 2018, the four-story, 80,000-square foot residence hall will provide 250 new beds for first-year students. The living space will replace what’s currently used in three aging East Campus buildings – East, Jarvis and Epworth.

Joe Gonzalez, dean for residence life, said that the new building will be a benefit not just for the number of new beds it provides, but enhanced facilities becoming popular in newly designed residence halls at Duke and elsewhere. Once complete, the new building will have a small theater space, gaming room and a common room big enough that several small gatherings can occur at the same time or the space can be used as one large event space.

“The balance between common space and student space reflects the standard we’re trying to bring to more of our residence hall populations,” Gonzalez said. “We want to offer more space to share.”

Concurrent with Duke’s design standards for new buildings, the new residence hall will be submitted for silver level LEED certification, which highlights sustainable practices and building functionality.

During construction, the dirt walking path that winds around East Campus will remain open for pedestrians.

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This map shows the location of the new residence hall, which is closest to the corner of Broad Street and Main Street.