Active Projects

The portfolio of projects managed by the Office of Project Management ranges from new buildings to renovation and renewal for Duke University. We do not manage projects for Duke's School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Medical Center. Those building projects are not included in our portfolio.

Duke is currently focused on the renewal and expansion of existing facilities on campus. These projects include updating and replacement of existing mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; roof replacement; office and lab renovations; utility infrastructure enhancements; athletic facility upgrades and landscape renovations.

Active projects in heavily frequented areas with noticeable building work and pedestrian or traffic rerouting are highlighted below. Projects are in alphabetical order.

Starting May 15, the Chapel Drive entrance will be closed to all vehicles. Pedestrians will access Chapel Drive via the existing walk from Flowers Drive. Beginning May 27, the Abele Quad bus stop – which serves the C1: East-West and Swift Avenue Shuttle routes – will be temporarily relocated to Flowers Drive behind the Allen Building. Temporary pedestrian signage will be installed in areas affected by the closure, in addition to a temporary Chapel Drive access route on Flowers Drive for emergency vehicles only.

The Chapel Drive entrance to West Campus from the Campus Drive traffic circle will be enhanced with a new permanent attendant shelter, raised crosswalk and traffic control bollards that can be raised and lowered across the roadway.

The entire project is expected to be completed in September 2025. The scheduled work on Chapel Drive in August will not impede access for move-in or orientation-related events. The Abele Quad bus stop is expected to reopen in mid-August. Once project work is complete, Chapel Drive will continue to be closed to all vehicles, except for Duke buses and those with approved authorization.

Project Manager: James King

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chapel drive render

The work will begin in mid-June 2024. Pedestrian access to all buildings will be maintained throughout the work, though there will be some detours as different sections of the quad will be addressed at different times.

The refresh of the landscape, hardscape and infrastructure within the East Campus Quad will continue throughout summer 2025. Throughout the past academic year work has continued on the project, which involved replacing the stormwater drainage system, sidewalks, granite curbs and irrigation system as well as upgrading the lighting with LEDs.

June 2025 UPDATE: Sidewalks and roadways in the East Campus Quad should reopen by the end of the fall semester, while work will continue on plantings and landscaping throughout the fall and spring semesters. The final step will be repaving the roadway surrounding the quad, which should take place in spring of 2026.

Project Manager: Heidy Jaramillo

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east

Known as the Garden Gateway, this transformational renovation and expansion project is designed to enrich the experience for all visitors and to accommodate the Garden’s dramatic growth in the past decade. Construction is scheduled to begin in late fall and reach completion in spring 2026. Visitors can continue to enjoy the Gardens throughout the entirety of the project.

Visitors are advised to check the Duke Gardens website for updates and important information as the project takes shape. To learn more, sign up for Garden Gateway email updates.

June 2025 UPDATE: From June 2 to 6, both lanes of Anderson Street will be closed in front of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens entrance so crews can connect sewer lines. The work will also result in the closure of the sidewalk on the east side of Anderson Street. During the closure, vehicular traffic moving between Erwin Road and Campus Drive will be rerouted via Alexander Avenue.

Project Manager: Virginia Norton

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garden gateway

Duke is in the midst of switching buildings from a steam system that has handled the heating needs of campus since the 1920s, to a more energy-efficient hot water system. Starting in May 2025, Gross Hall and Sanford Hall will be added to Duke’s hot water network, which consists of underground pipes running to and from a hot water plant on West Campus.

Connecting the buildings to the underground network will require the closure of both lanes of Towerview Road from the entrance to the Law School Lot to the Student Wellness Center starting on May 12. Science Drive will remain open during the work. Approximately 30 parking spaces in the Law School lot will be used to store equipment and allow crews to work on connecting to existing underground pipes.

Towerview Road is expected to reopen in mid-August 2025.

Project Manager: Ed Sinnott

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towerview

Originally opened in 1927, Lilly Library, a hub of student life on East Campus, is in the midst of a two-year renovation and expansion project that will blend the building’s historic charm with modern features. The library will have more collaborative study spaces, technology-equipped project rooms and a new entrance.

Lilly Library has been closed since May 2024 with the library’s staff providing services such as checking out materials, printing and scanning in Bishop’s House. Vehicular access will remain limited on Brodie Gym Drive and the Pegram Parking Lot will remain closed until the work is completed.

The project is expected to last two years, with the goal of having the library open by fall of 2026.

Project Manager: Dudley Willis

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lilly

The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Sculpture Garden will create 270 degrees of walkable landscape for visitors with accessible pathways and green spaces for displaying art outdoors and for community gatherings and events.

The entrance to the Nasher Museum from Anderson Street is closed. The museum’s main parking lot will remain accessible from Campus Drive and Duke University Road.

May 2025 UPDATE: Due to necessary changes in the scope of work driven by new survey data, expected completion has been pushed from summer 2025 to early fall. As part of the official opening of the new sculpture garden and in celebration of the Nasher Museum’s 20th anniversary, a free celebration is planned for October 18, 2025.

Project Manager: Heidy Jaramillo

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Built in 1931, the Reuben-Cooke Building will undergo a renovation – supported by a gift from The Duke Endowment – that will include a new roof, an overhaul of its mechanical, electrical, plumbing and telecommunications systems, restoration of historic windows and replacement of existing windows, and a modernization of its offices, classrooms and lab spaces.

May 2025 UPDATE: The building will be closed for nearly two years starting June 2025. The sidewalks between the Reuben-Cooke Building and the Social Sciences Building will be closed and approximately 60 parking spaces in the Upper Allen Building Lot will be temporarily out of service.

Work is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

Project Manager: Gregory Stribling

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Replacement of failed utility vaults on Science Drive near the visitors parking lot across from the JB Duke Hotel.

Starting December 17, pedestrian detours will be in effect on Science Drive, while Whitford Drive will have alternating one-lane traffic. Cones, barriers and temporary traffic lights will be in use to manage traffic.

The work should be complete by May 2025.

Project Manager: Ed Sinnott

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science drive

The Washington Duke Inn’s lobby, Bull Durham Bar and patio and the Fairview patio will all be renovated. There will also be a new restroom added to the public spaces of the hotel near West Campus.

The hotel will be closed to the public from June 29 to July 13. Pedestrian traffic through the interior of the hotel will be re-routed as needed throughout the duration of the project.

The project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2026.

Project Manager: Lynn Joyner

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Due to the nature of the design and construction process, the information provided, including size, time frame, program description and renderings are subject to change. If you have questions or plan to use the information provided, please contact us via email or by calling (919) 660-2519.