New $2 Million Award to Boost Garden Gateway Project, Welcome Center
Duke University has received a $2 million award from The Duke Endowment for the “Garden Gateway” project at Sarah P. Duke Gardens, aimed at transforming the visitor experience with a new welcome center, front entrance and expanded spaces for events and programming.
The new award is the second from The Duke Endowment toward the overall $30 million project. The first award was $5 million at the start of the project in 2019 and included $1 million for an endowment for future project maintenance.
Construction is expected to begin later this fall, during which the Gardens will remain open, followed by a grand opening in Spring 2026.
“The Garden Gateway project will be transformative for the Gardens and the many thousands of Duke community members and campus visitors who enjoy them every year,” said Duke University President Vincent E. Price. “I am grateful to The Duke Endowment for their continued support for such a treasured part of our campus.”
The Gardens front entrance footprint will expand by more than 9,000 square feet, including a new welcome center to enhance accessibility and engagement, a new cafe, indoor and outdoor classroom spaces, and a new unloading zone and entry for increased safety for the more than 6,000 school children who visit the Gardens each year.
In addition, plans call for the renovation of another 10,000 square feet within the Doris Duke Center, that includes the expansion of Kirby Horton Hall to accommodate community and private events, an enlarged catering kitchen, and a new lawn that will double as a modern performance venue that can accommodate up to 2,000 attendees.
“While Duke Gardens is beloved by many visitors, our existing facilities at the main entrance do not provide an optimal experience for everyone,” said William M. LeFevre, executive director of Duke Gardens. “We are thrilled that The Duke Endowment is enabling us to transform that space into a more accessible and functional environment. The Garden Gateway project will enhance visitor engagement and expand our program offerings, providing a richer experience for both the Duke and Durham communities. We are excited about the possibilities this project will bring.”
The idea of a public garden at Duke arose in the early 1930s, when Dr. Frederic M. Hanes, an original faculty member of Duke Medical School, persuaded one of his close friends to make an initial gift toward the financing of a garden space at Duke. That friend was Sarah P. Duke, widow of one of Duke’s founders, Benjamin N. Duke, who gave $20,000 to start the garden that would become the Sarah P. Duke Gardens we know today.
“Alumni and friends regard the Gardens as such a special place,” said Dave Kennedy, vice president of Duke Alumni Engagement and Development. “I am so glad to see the Gardens make those connections even deeper through this project, and I am so thankful for The Duke Endowment’s continued support. Their early gifts and ongoing awards have been integral to the donor support that has followed to help the Gardens reach its $30 million goal.”
Charles C. Lucas III, chair of The Duke Endowment Board of Trustees and the great-great-grandson of Sarah P. Duke, acknowledged how special the Gardens are to the Duke family, the university and the Durham community.
“We are thrilled to see the Sarah P. Duke Gardens continue its legacy as one of the most beautiful public gardens in the country,” Lucas said. “This additional gift helped Duke University reach its goal of raising $30 million for this project. I have no doubt past generations of the Duke family would be proud of what the gardens mean and have meant to our ever-expanding community and on behalf of our family and The Duke Endowment, we are so glad to see this project come to fruition.”
Before planning your visit to Duke Gardens, see the Duke Gardens Garden Gateway website for the latest construction and parking information.
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $4.8 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.
