Abele Quad Renovation Project Begins March 27

Work will refresh sidewalks, roadways and hardscapes within iconic piece of campus

Abele Quad
A renovation project of Abele Quad will begin March 27. Photo courtesy of University Communications.

Work on refreshing Abele Quad and other portions of the heart of Duke University’s West Campus will begin on March 27 and continue until the end of the calendar year.

The renovation project, overseen by Duke Facilities Management, will replace the bluestone walkways along Abele Quad and the residential quad and the limestone stairs approaching Duke University Chapel. The Chapel Drive bus circle will be repaved and concrete curbs will be replaced with granite ones. Four raised crosswalks will be added across Chapel Drive and the center island between the Allen Building and Few Quad will be expanded and refreshed.

“We’re trying to make it more pedestrian-friendly and take it back closer to how it was originally designed,” said Duke University Landscape Architect Mark Hough. “Abele Quad really is the heart of campus. It’s the ceremonial heart, it’s the academic heart and the social heart. It’s a fairly simple landscape, but it’s so well-detailed, and the scope and proportion are so good, it’s just a comfortable place to be.”

The work, which will be completed in phases, is expected to wrap up by December 30, 2023, depending on weather.

Due to the work, the Chapel Drive bus stop will be temporarily moved to Flowers Drive from May 22 to August 4.

Temporary walkways will be available while sidewalks are being repaired to maintain pedestrian traffic. Vehicular access to the Chapel Drive Traffic circle will be limited at times during the project.

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