Princeton University needed a comprehensive framework plan to guide their next ten years of anticipated growth. The charge was to keep the plan rooted in their rich physical history, be able to influence a $3 billion capital program and enhance the campus infrastructure in sustainable and strategic ways. It had to maintain a pedestrian-oriented campus, preserve the park-like setting, and maintain existing campus neighborhoods while promoting a sense of campus community, be environmentally sustainable, and maintain strong community relations.
The plan produced results at all scales—from the restoration of historic paving materials to the establishment of a regional transit hub. It has increased the amount of previous open space at new project sites, reduced stormwater runoff volumes and rates to local streams and lakes, met the development goals of the university, and reduced parking demand through transit improvements and policy recommendations.
A desire to consolidate the arts and establish a world-renowned creative and performing arts center is the seed of the arts and transit neighborhood. The plan also identified growth opportunities for the sciences by establishing multi-disciplinary neighborhoods with cohesive character and quality open spaces.
The plan also reconfigures roadways and access points to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, ease congestion at key intersections, establish a multi-modal transit plaza, and reduce impacts on adjacent neighborhoods.
Landscape plans for the historic core emphasize stewardship of Princeton’s design legacies through garden restoration and improvement of processional walkways. Completed projects demonstrate how the modification of traditional approaches to campus design will address contemporary problems such as increased building scale and walking distances.
The jury said, “The team . . . did a great job of communicating what the issues were . . .best set of analytical graphics. . . demonstrated that campus design is really about getting the big picture right and then the details right down to storm water . . .”
Project Team: Princeton University with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc., Landscape Architects, P.C.; Nitsch Engineering, Inc, site sustainability; BFJ Planning, traffic & transportation; Gorove/Slade Associates, Inc., traffic & transportation; Chance Management Advisors, Inc., parking; Two Twelve Associates, Inc., wayfinding & graphic design; Architecture Research Office LLC, planning & architecture; Lynden B. Miller Public Garden Design, horticulture & garden design; and K. Backus & Associates, Inc., real estate. |
