Renzo Piano, a world-renowned architect who designed the recently opened modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, is considered a “person of interest” for future construction projects at Duke, President Richard Brodhead said Wednesday night at an alumni event in Chicago.
“We’ve certainly been in contact with [Piano],” said Michael Schoenfeld, vice president for public affairs and government relations. He added that he could not comment on the extent of the discussions with the architect.
In addition to designing the Art Institute’s modern wing, which was praised by The New York Times as “a work of genuinely good architecture that is also kind to art,” Piano has designed skyscrapers, bridges, parks and museums.
He won the prestigious Pritzker Prize for his work in 1997 and has been called “the world’s finest architect” by The Independent, a British newspaper.
Although Duke froze construction projects earlier this year due to the budget constraints caused by the economic downturn, construction plans for major projects such as the development of New Campus are still being fleshed out, Schoenfeld said.
“We’re continuing to plan for a number of projects, even though we have a temporary halt in construction activity,” he said. “We are conducting aggressive planning on New Campus… and certainly Renzo Piano is one of the architects we would be eager to engage in the development of that project.”
Schoenfeld added that “a number of leading architects” are also under consideration by Duke to spearhead future construction efforts, but did not provide any names.
The University’s interest in the architect may stem from the fact that several of Piano’s projects have been recognized for their environmental friendliness. The Art Institute’s new wing is expected to be considered for a silver rating in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council, the Chicago Tribune reported. Another Piano project, the California Academy of Sciences, has a platinum LEED rating.
Duke’s Smart Home program was awarded a platinum LEED rating last summer, and a new parking garage slated to open this January is expected to be considered for LEED certification.
Be sure to check out the Thursday, May 28 issue of The Chronicle for more coverage.
Christopher Schroeder, Charles S. Murphy Professor of Law and Professor of Public Policy Studies, has been named assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Policy by President Barack Obama, according to a White House press release.
“I’m grateful that such experienced and dedicated individuals have joined my administration at a time when our nation faces great challenges,” Obama said in the press release, which also announced several other administrative appointments. “Their deep commitment to their individual areas of work gives me confidence that they will help us put America back on a path to prosperity and security.”
David Levi, dean of the School of Law, said Wednesday night at a Duke alumni event in Chicago that Schroeder would be picked to lead the OLP.
“Chris Schroeder is a brilliant legal scholar and a gifted teacher,” Michael Schoenfeld, Duke’s vice president for public affairs and government relations, wrote in an e-mail. “His selection for this critical position means that President Obama will have the best possible person working on legal policy issues.”
The Legal Times, a legal newspaper in Washington, D.C., reported in mid-April that Schroeder was under consideration.
The White House had initially planned to tap Mayer Brown partner and Duke alumnus Mark Gitenstein to the post, the Blog of the Legal Times reported, but thereafter reconsidered the nomination following opposition to his potential nomination, according to Roll Call.
Schroeder previously served as acting assistant Attorney General in the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel during the Clinton administration. He was also a member of Obama’s transition team. Schroeder has taught courses on constitutional law, environmental law and civil liberties.
Kevin Jones is currently the acting assistant attorney general for the OLP.
Schroeder will continue to have a relationship with the University if he is confirmed by the Senate, Schoenfeld said.
If confirmed, Schroeder will be the second Duke law professor to head to Washington this year. Sen. Ted Kaufman, who was appointed to Vice President Joe Biden’s vacated Senate seat in January, is also a senior lecturing fellow in the School of Law.
Be sure to check out the Thursday, May 28 issue of The Chronicle for more coverage.
Political analyst and polling guru Nate Silver, founder of fivethirtyeight.com, has a great election guide that breaks down tonight’s results by hour and state. Some key points:
Indiana is the first key state that closes its polls at 6 EST. But be wary of early results, since the northwest portions of the state are under central time, so results will come later than in the rest of the state. Moreover, Obama is likely to poll strongly in that region, as it is considered part of Chicagoland, a clear Obama stronghold.
North Carolina and Ohio close their polls at 7:30 EST. As swing states, the results will be closely watched by both parties. Early voting in N.C. favors Obama by around 10 to 20 percent and in Ohio by 20 to 30 percent.
Pennsylvania and Missouri close their polls at 8:00 EST. If Obama wins both, it will be very difficult for McCain to make up the deficit.
Barack Obama with a rocket launcher? Sarah Palin toting an assault rifle? It’s not typical campaign material, but those eager for more personal interaction with the candidates can do so soon after EA releases their new patch for the video game Mercenaries 2: World in Flames. The extension, expected to be available sometime in November, will feature Obama and Palin as, well, mercenaries. But instead of camo gear, Obama will keep his characteristic suit and Palin her red jacket and defining hair-do. Keep an eye on 00:41 and 1:01 to see the two in full combat mode.
