Construction Begins on Duke University’s Lilly Library Transformation

Construction has officially begun on the transformation of Duke University’s Lilly Library, an ambitious project that blends careful preservation with forward-looking expansion.

Located on Duke’s East Campus, Lilly Library has served generations of students and faculty since its opening in 1927. Designed in the Georgian Revival style by the Office of Horace Trumbauer, with significant contributions from chief designer Julian Abele, the library was part of the University’s early architectural vision, red-brick, symmetrical, and stately. It’s a cornerstone of campus history and one of the oldest libraries at Duke.

The current project marks a significant new chapter. The renovation and expansion will restore and modernize the historic structure while adding a major new wing that nearly doubles its existing footprint. The new addition is designed to support 21st-century academic life, with expanded reading rooms, collaborative learning spaces, and state-of-the-art infrastructure. It’s not just an upgrade in size, it’s an investment in how libraries can evolve as intellectual and social hubs.  

“An added commons would become the crossroads for East that the von der Heyden Pavilion is for West, encouraging informal interactions between faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates” – Duke University Libraries.

For studioDSK, this project reflects a familiar balance: honoring architectural heritage while designing for the needs of today and tomorrow. The kickoff signals the beginning of a multi-year process that we’re proud to be part of, helping shape a space where Duke’s academic community will continue to read, think, and connect for decades to come.

For more information about the Lilly Library renovation and expansion, visit the Duke University Libraries website.