This vision plan for Duke’s East Campus reimagines this Housing quadrangle as a “campus in the forest” for the university’s 1,800 first-year students, expanding the existing tree canopies to support an arboretum within this living room experience. The concept organizes the site into a constellation of diverse programmatic experiences, anchored by a vibrant central “heart” of social activity directly adjacent to the library. From this energetic core, the landscape transitions into progressively quieter zones designed for reflection, study, and personal retreat, creating a holistic environment that nurtures community engagement and individual growth.

In alignment with Duke’s climate commitments, the proposal integrates daylighted stormwater management, maintains horticultural assets on the site and incorporates reclaimed site materials, including salvaged granite curbing, to create a sustainable, layered landscape that balances academic life, well-being, and environmental stewardship.