Duke Facilities Management is continuing work on several major construction projects in and around the University’s campus this fall that may impact building operations and student access.
The renovation of Lilly Library on East Campus is perhaps the most well-known project among first-year students. The facility has been closed to the public since May and aims to reopen in the summer of 2026.
Renovations include additional seating, study spaces and a cafe, as well as improved climate systems, lights and furniture. Alternative library spaces, including a temporary home for Lilly Library staff at the Bishop’s House on East Campus, can be found on the Duke Libraries website.
East Campus Quad is also undergoing renovations, including upgraded lighting, sidewalks and stormwater drains. According to Duke Today, the lawn and plants are being "refreshed,” and the Wi-Fi will be improved to increase its range. The project began in mid-June and is set to be completed by late 2025.
The Nasher Museum is in the process of building a new outdoor arts space, to be named the Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Sculpture Garden after Nasher, Law School ‘79, and Haemisegger, who donated $5 million for the project. Claire Agre, Trinity ’02, led its design, which aims to be “accessible” and conducive to a reflective art experience.
The new space will feature wooden walking steps, wheelchair-accessible pathways and a 21-foot stone bench. The construction led to the closure of the Nasher’s Anderson Street entrance, though the main parking lot off Campus Drive and Duke University Road remains accessible. Duke Facilities aims to finish the construction project by the summer of 2025.
Jack Coombs Baseball Field is having its dugouts remodeled to be larger and lower than the field itself, also adding bathrooms. The project, which began this summer, is resulting in the temporary closures of sidewalks along Whitford Drive but should be completed in the fall.
Adjacent to the field, Science Drive is home to two major construction projects that have affected traffic patterns. An underground waste pipe beside the Physics Building was replaced over the summer. The area has since reopened, with road work completed in September and sidewalk remodeling scheduled to finish by Oct. 11.
One lane has remained closed next to the Fuqua School of Business and Duke School of Law while the two buildings’ hot water systems get connected to the rest of Duke’s pipeline. The move is part of Duke’s broader sustainability efforts to generate heat with electric pumps in place of natural gas-fired boilers, according to Evan Heisman, communications and support services manager of the facilities management department.
The affected section of Science Drive will remain closed and operated by a one-way traffic light until Sept. 17, and the project is expected to be completed by Nov 1.
Duke’s roads saw additional construction this year, with the repaving of Lemur Lane — which connects the Duke Lemur Center with Erwin Road — in May.
Two flashing light crosswalks are being installed near the Duke campus to improve pedestrian safety: one on Cameron Boulevard connecting the Grounds Lot to the soccer practice fields, and another on Duke University Road connecting the Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center with the parking lots across the street.
Finally, the University is launching two upcoming large-scale building renovations.
First, the Reuben-Cooke Building's $25 million renovations seek to replace its decades-old internal systems and install a permanent display in honor of its namesake, Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke — one of Duke’s first Black undergraduates.
The $30 million Garden Gateway project at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens will add a new welcome center, cafe, indoor and outdoor classroom spaces and a new unloading zone for visitors. It will expand the Doris Duke Center, including a larger kitchen and lawn to accommodate larger events. Construction will begin this fall and conclude in spring 2026, though the gardens will remain open to the public during renovations.
In addition to the work overseen by Duke Facilities, the city of Durham will be replacing a water main at the intersection of Broad Street and Main Street on the west side of East Campus this fall, which will likely cause traffic delays and increased noise.
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Max Tendler is a Trinity first-year and a staff reporter for the news department.