For sixteen years, those who have driven past the closed complex of buildings known as the American Tobacco Company have basically driven past a closed fortress.

Acres and acres of buildings have been closed. Walking south down the several blocks along Blackwell Street on the east side of the campus, west along Jackie Robinson Drive, north along Julian Carr Avenue and then east down Pettigrew street, one taking such a long walk would see either bricked up, closed doors or chain link fences.

For the newcomer to Durham or to a baseball fan attending a Durham Bulls game, one had to wonder what was behind those closed and barricaded walls.

In a recent essay about the re-construction of this historic campus, I highlighted the significance of the opening of windows that had been closed for so long in so many buildings. Windows allow light to travel in two directions, in and out, and thus signal the presence of life and activity for those inside the walls of the buildings and those on the outside looking in.

On November 6, 2003, I took notice of another phenomena heralding the new life being transfused into this campus.

In the Reed Building, I was able to be on the inside looking out through what is to be a great doorway out onto Blackwell Street. Just a little south, in the Crowe Building, there was great activity cutting away beams to create a magnificent lobby for that building opening onto Blackwell Street.

Then just a little further south, there was the beginning of the construction of a new entrance for the Fowler Building, just across the street from the main entrance to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. On the west side of the Fowler Building, glass doorways were in the process of being installed that would open out into the courtyard between the two main lines of builidngs, Reed, Crowe and Strickland across from the array of bays that make up the Washington Building.

Windows open the way for light to enter, a commodity necessary for the vitality of life that will soon be commonplace in this restored campus.

Doors open the way for people to come and go. I marvel at the fact that in just a few short months, citizens can walk through this complex of historic buildings, not just around them.

There is the cliche` 'window of opportuinity' as well as 'door of opportunity.' Both are becoming realities as the restoration of such a vital part of Downtown Durham continues at a steady and rapid pace.

Doorways will invite people to become a part of the new life in a part of Durham's past. People - living, working and playing - in this re-vitalized and restored part of Durham's history will be a beautiful view for those speeding past on the Durham Freeway.

They may just slow down and take time for a visit.