establishing a new urban research center

Carmichael Building

Durham, NC

A cornerstone of Duke University’s commitment to education across disciplines, university-wide institutes foster problem-focused education, research, and engagement to generate knowledge. Duke administrators sought to develop The Carmichael Building, an abandoned former tobacco warehouse, into a state-of-the-art medical research center. This design played a significant part in Duke’s initiative to establish a new urban research center in downtown Durham. The Carmichael Building brings together various research programs located on and off-campus, most significant being the Steadman Center. The design team developed the space plans for each research program for inclusion into a historic renovation, consisting of 115,000 SF on two floors. The program consists of public reception areas, offices, research laboratories, specialized laboratories and processing areas, cell storage, and other common function spaces. This facility’s redevelopment continues the transformation of this historic district into a vibrant, integrated research and innovation community.