Duke University is driven to accomplish building projects without delay

It is true that ongoing downturn has not affected Duke University’s funding, which is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States, as negatively as other peer universities in the country. Whatever it is the University is highly conscious of the changing atmosphere and what may be the future if the preventive measures are not taken at this juncture. Provost Peter Lange of the Duke University is quite aware of these and this became evident when he was found to address the members of Campus Council on Tuesday about the future of new building projects. It should be taken into account that this was his first interaction with the Council in four years.

What did he say therefore? Well, his lecture made it very clear that there would not be any new building initiatives till 2011 at the earliest. He said, “The big problem with capital projects is once you start them, you have to finish them, and then in 30 years you have to pay the debt.” Now the question remains whether the University is going through a financial crisis. Well, this question was perhaps anticipated by Peter Lange since he added that his statement does not indicate that the University is incapable to fund the building projects that have been in the planning stages for several years.

What are the significant building projects? Well, the priority happens to be New Campus, adding a new wing to the Levine Science Research Center, along with renovation of the old sections of the Perkins Library stacks and “Mr. Duke’s Duke Project”-a restoration of buildings from Duke’s original 1920s campus.

There is no doubt in that fact that the Duke University is both determined and optimistic to accomplish these targets (of topmost priority) at a meteoric speed. There would be no constraint of fund whatever may be the situation.

Last but not least, plans to add air conditioning to all dormitories are in the works.