According to a local report, the current center, known as the Bates Law Building, was erected in 1969 and has not been updated since the 1970s. Most of the current law building is situated underground with no windows, making it dark as well as susceptible to flooding. Floods in the past have ruined textbooks as well as forced students to move out of the building.

Once the school is able to raise the proper amount of funding, university officials will construct a five-story facility to replace the current building that’s suffered major water damage. The new facility will include modern technology, a law library, classrooms, a courtroom and event space. All services will be centralized and easy to navigate, including faculty, who will be accessible on the first floor.

The first floor will house a new courtroom and parliament-style classrooms, an event space for hosting speakers and guests, a security desk and lobby that works as a directory and information center, and a clinical space, where pro bono legal services will be offered to the community.

Instead of underground, the library will be on the new building’s top two floors.

Another primary goal is to improve the status of the law school as the center is already ranked as one the top centers for law in the country; specializing in healthcare law, intellectual property law and part-time law.

The center has currently raised $10 million toward construction — which will take place at what is currently lot 19b — from alumni and the Law Foundation.

The University will not know the outcome of their request until May at the earliest, when the current legislative session ends.

Construction is expected to begin by 2021 assuming things move forward with the funding.

Reports from the Houston Chronicle and the Daily Cougar contributed to this story.

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In a statement on GoDuke.com, the official website of Duke athletics, Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Kevin White said the department is thrilled with the board’s decision to move forward on the project.

“When completed in 2016, Duke’s football facilities will rank among the finest in college athletics — on a scale appropriate for the university,” White said. “High-level sporting events create such tremendous opportunities to attract many members of the Duke family to campus. The premium amenities included in these state-of-the-art renovations will generate a first-rate experience for our alumni, friends, fans and most importantly, an optimal game day atmosphere for our student-athletes.”

The largest of the three upgrade projects will involve construction of a five-story tower containing multiple concession areas and restrooms on the main concourse level. A 300-seat dining room and luxury suites will comprise the tower’s second level, with additional luxury suites and a president’s box on the third level. The fourth level will create new space for media outlets and both home and visiting team coaches, while the fifth level will be dedicated to video and filming.

Upon completion, a new LED video board and sound system will also grace the field’s south end zone. The 1080P high definition video board will span nearly 3,200 square feet — more than double the size of the current display — and will be developed through a partnership with Daktronics, according to GoDuke.com. New interior and exterior lighting will also be added to brighten the complex.

Additional work will be done to improve guest services and first aid areas and to increase ADA accessibility and companion seating. The concourse will be repaved and nine sections of existing bleachers will be replaced with seats featuring the Blue Devils’ signature color. These seats — along with those created by the new tower — will increase capacity to nearly 40,000, up significantly from the current 33,941.

Beck Architecture PLLC of Atlanta has partnered with the university to redesign the stadium, which will also include the removal of the existing track to lower the field.

The nearly two-year construction process will begin after the Duke’s final home game against Wake Forest on Nov. 29 and should be completed in time for the 2016 season.

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