He also stayed busy connecting with North Carolina health officials and reading up on the latest U.S.

He spent his days comparing notes with facilities managers at other universities on the best ways to deal with the crisis. “This was territory we never encountered before.” Circling the wagonsįor Policastro, the summer of 2020 quickly became a blur. “The university remained closed for the entire summer-and then we all were faced with the overwhelming task of figuring out how to open the campus back up to 15,000 students,” recalls Policastro, the school’s director of recreation facilities.

Nobody understood the severity of the situation then-most were thinking they were about to enjoy an impromptu three-week mini-vacation that would actually extend for months. Within hours, staff learned that the Durham, North Carolina, campus would close due to COVID-19. His team wrapped things up quickly and returned to open the building the next day. Chris Policastro | Director of Recreation Facilities | Duke UniversityĪs Chris Policastro recalls, the plan was for a detailed cleaning, some touch-up painting, and setting out new lobby furniture.

West chester university rec center