Architect: Duda|Paine Architects
Project Location: Durham, NC
Project Completion Date: May, 2014
Short Description: The new Duke Faculty Club replaces a dilapidated facility establishing a greater connection to the Club’s historic Duke Forest site for users. A celebratory entry portal creates a sense of arrival and anchors a circulation spine for the program spaces within. Vertical wood screening mimics the standing nature of the surrounding pines and filters light into the interior. Notches carved into the wood slats form an arc pattern, creating rhythm, playfully referencing Duke’s Gothic arches. Upright lines turned horizontal on the south side creating shade structures. These trellises frame outdoor spaces and allow the building to extend into the landscape.
Architect’s Statement: The Duke Faculty Club has been the home of recreation and fitness for the faculty of Duke University since 1971. The original facility fell into disrepair and was demolished, replaced by this new modern facility to provide many of the same amenities while improving the users’ connection with the historic Duke Forest site. The building layout focuses on circulation through and across the building to facilitate and interweave movement and activity. The main circulation spine double loads the program on the north and south while acting as a portal to the outdoor amenities at the main entry. The flow across this central space is accentuated by a series of clerestories that bring natural light into the building and changes in materiality, ceiling height and finish. The project includes a fitness center, administration offices, locker rooms, office space, snack bar and a game room. On-site features are an expansive family pool with adjacent pool house, a zero entry baby pool, two lap pools, clay and asphalt tennis courts, a playground, event lawn and garden terrace.
Type of Construction: Wood features prominently in the project. Along the circulation spine, pine was harvested from the adjacent Duke Forest. Clear Red Cedar and ground-faced masonry clad the exterior, providing both functional and aesthetic contrast. These materials along with the interplay of natural light help create a relaxed setting for users between indoor and outdoor activities.