Spring Break
Plans for new Central shift to south
Trustees OK Campus Drive-centered plan
By: Chelsea Allison
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: News
Last update: 3/5/08 at 5:58 AM EST
Last update: 3/5/08 at 5:58 AM EST
The Board of Trustees approved a revamped master plan for Central Campus Saturday, giving the go-ahead for construction along Campus Drive and aiming to integrate Central with East and West campuses, administrators said Tuesday.
Lead architect Cesar Pelli's plan incorporates a broad vision of the 200-acre campus and moves the locus of development farther south than previous plans.
The design phase is expected to take another six months, with infrastructure work beginning in 2009 and buildings opening in early 2011, according to a statement.
"The key difference here is that it's not a separate campus," said Dean of Undergraduate Education Steve Nowicki. "It takes one of our two islands-West-and expands it, so in the future... there will be no 'Central Campus.'"
Nowicki said the new plan will enhance housing, dining, academic and social opportunities within five regions of development: the West Union District, the Gothic Neighborhood, the New Edens Neighborhood, the Garden Neighborhood and the Arts District.
He also confirmed that the University will construct a fourth side to Keohane Quadrangle.
The new plan constitutes Phase I of what is expected to be a 50- to 75-year project of reinventing Duke's campus.
Although Pelli's firm, Pelli Clarke Pelli, will continue working on the overarching development of the campus, other architects will design specific buildings, allowing for a more diverse campus framework, officials said.
Nowicki has authored a 20-page report, "Uniting Old and New: A Vision for the Integrated Development of Duke's West and Central Campus," outlining how elements of the plan can contribute to students' overall experience.
"The campus would become a continuous chain of residential areas, punctuated by jewels of interesting and highly interactive spaces each with its own character, and each serving as a nucleus of activity where diverse segments of the community can find connection," Nowicki wrote in the report.
Lead architect Cesar Pelli's plan incorporates a broad vision of the 200-acre campus and moves the locus of development farther south than previous plans.
The design phase is expected to take another six months, with infrastructure work beginning in 2009 and buildings opening in early 2011, according to a statement.
"The key difference here is that it's not a separate campus," said Dean of Undergraduate Education Steve Nowicki. "It takes one of our two islands-West-and expands it, so in the future... there will be no 'Central Campus.'"
Nowicki said the new plan will enhance housing, dining, academic and social opportunities within five regions of development: the West Union District, the Gothic Neighborhood, the New Edens Neighborhood, the Garden Neighborhood and the Arts District.
He also confirmed that the University will construct a fourth side to Keohane Quadrangle.
The new plan constitutes Phase I of what is expected to be a 50- to 75-year project of reinventing Duke's campus.
Although Pelli's firm, Pelli Clarke Pelli, will continue working on the overarching development of the campus, other architects will design specific buildings, allowing for a more diverse campus framework, officials said.
Nowicki has authored a 20-page report, "Uniting Old and New: A Vision for the Integrated Development of Duke's West and Central Campus," outlining how elements of the plan can contribute to students' overall experience.
"The campus would become a continuous chain of residential areas, punctuated by jewels of interesting and highly interactive spaces each with its own character, and each serving as a nucleus of activity where diverse segments of the community can find connection," Nowicki wrote in the report.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Student
posted 3/05/08 @ 8:27 AM EST
The trees along campus drive give Duke its special feel of being in nature. I'd rather see that as I take the bus or drive than more coffee shops.
Trinity 2010
posted 3/05/08 @ 10:03 AM EST
I agree with the student above; I absolutely love driving down campus drive and seeing the nature. Which sounds lame when I'm typing it out and seeing it on screen. (Continued…)
Alum '06
posted 3/05/08 @ 11:18 AM EST
I agree with BOTH of the posters above. Duke has a wonderful bucolic feel to it...DO NOT get ride of those trees!
Jane
posted 3/05/08 @ 4:10 PM EST
Buildings along campus drive?? Who's idea is this? Luckily, we don't have to worry because Central Campus plans have been proposed ever since I can remember. (Continued…)
Henry Thipes
posted 3/05/08 @ 5:30 PM EST
.
Where's the brainwashing component of CCI? My suggestion would be to brainwash first, then build. I think Duke has it bassackwards.
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