Duke University Sculpture Plaza
Duke University Sculpture Plaza
Durham, North Carolina
Duke University Sculpture Park is a transformative vision for 140-acres of North Carolina Piedmont as the setting for sculpture, nature, academic life and community. Phase 1A of the plan, completed September 2019, creates an elegant entry to the north of the Nasher Museum of Art, connecting it to Duke’s historic Campus Drive and The Rubenstein Arts Center for the first time. The resulting landscape is the first step towards creating the Sculpture Park and catalyzing Duke’s district for the Arts.
The design team worked alongside Duke’s Landscape Architect and the renowned Nasher Museum of Art’s curatorial team to create a welcoming and functional plaza for the arts; allowing for both permanent sculpture and special performances. Contemporary detailing unites the Ruby and The Nasher as a special campus district within the university and in contrast to the historic West and East campuses. Timeless materials which tie to West Campus include bluestone, North Carolina Granite, and flexible, verdant lawns.
As Principal at West 8, Unknown Studio’s Claire Agre won the Sculpture Park commission, and together with the West 8 design team, led vision, feasibility and detailed design of the Sculpture Park over a four-year period (2015-2019).
Project timeline: 2018-2019
Client: Duke University, The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
Scope: Full Design Services
Project Type: Campus | Culture | Park
Size: 1.5 acres
Budget: $2,500,000
Team: West 8 urban design & landscape architecture, p.c.
Claire Agre, Principal & Senior Landscape Architect
Consultants: McAdams Engineering, LHC Structural Engineering, Jeffrey Bruce Company, Jaffe Holden, Newcomb & Boyd
