Abstract:
With the development of Central Campus at Duke University the opportunity may exist
for one hundred acres of hollows between East and West campus and a greenway swath to be
assigned to Sarah P. Duke Gardens for oversight. This Masters project examines one possible
scenario for the future of the Central Campus hollows. The Gardens welcomes the opportunity
for this addition to the garden footprint and the possible connection that may exist to develop an
academic connection to the University. This Central Campus Master Plan is to be developed
over the next twenty to fifty years with possible initial construction to begin the summer of 2008.
The Gardens would like the opportunity to restore the hollows back to a pine-hardwood
forest. This addition would tie in to the current mission of the Gardens – to create and nurture an
environment for learning, inspiration and enjoyment. Through a concentrated effort on the
removal of invasive plants and the addition of native species the Gardens education programs
would be enriched and a new connection to University academics would be established. With
the establishment of new partnerships with various Duke Departments within campus service and
the academic areas, the development of the hollows will improve Central Campus.
The Gardens already functions as storm water control. With the increase of impervious
surfaces that Central Campus could add, the amount of storm water runoff that will impact the
Gardens and the hollows will increase. The one hundred acres of hollows of pine-hardwood
would not only provide opportunities for education and research, but it would provide a
mechanism to manage storm water runoff and water quality.
