Overview

Sustainable building goes beyond the materials used to construct the buildings to include the human experience. This means the natural light that floods work and study spaces, open common areas to foster community, trees and greenery to express the relationship between people and nature, and bike racks to encourage sustainable commuting. Sustainability features are incorporated into Duke campus buildings inside and out. From the glass and steel that form the walls, to the heating and cooling systems running through those walls, to the trees that surround the buildings, there are many ways that Duke incorporates sustainability into its buildings. Sustainable design on campus helps Duke reduce energy and water use, builds community within and around buildings, fosters healthy ecosystems locally, and saves money for Duke University.

photo of Grainger Hall

Duke University's Grainger Hall

Highlights

  • In 2019, Duke adopted its High Performance Building Framework, which creates a standard for new construction and major renovation on campus. This framework takes a holistic view of green building at Duke by outlining an improved process for planning campus buildings, a rigorous sustainable design standard, and a tracking and rating system to examine how facilities perform in the long-term. 
     
  • Duke previously followed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines. Some examples of sustainable buildings on campus include the French Family Science Center (LEED Silver), School of Nursing (LEED Silver), Duke Lemur Center (LEED Silver), East Campus Steam Plant (LEED Gold), Marine Lab’s Pilkey Research Laboratory (LEED Gold), and Grainger Hall (LEED Platinum). In 2021, Duke had over 51 buildings on campus that are LEED certified or registered for certification - over 30% of the university's total square footage.
     
  • Duke is also focused on renewing and renovating existing buildings. This means investing in existing buildings, preserving the embodied carbon, and retrofitting to make buildings as energy efficient as possible. 

 

Photo of Orrin Pilkey Research Lab

Photo of the Orrin Pilkey Laboratory at the Duke University Marine Lab.

Photo of Brodhead Center exterior

Duke's Brodhead Center for Student Life.