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Steven Holl Architects reveal major new Princeton campus design
The fourth oldest college in the United States is set to receive a new addition to class...a new arts and transit neighbourhood. Having chosen Steven Holl Architects for this assignment, Princeton played host while the Washington firm unveiled their concept design on Wednesday.
Holl’s design was congratulated for having the capability to integrate successfully with existing Princeton architecture: "Among the many things I love about Steven Holl's initial design is the extent to which it incorporates a very potent feature of the archetypical Princeton courtyard," said Paul Muldoon, chair of the Lewis Center. "One has heard the architecture of Princeton likened to that of Oxford. There's a subtle, but significant, difference. The Oxford quadrangle has four sides and a door that says, 'Stay out.' The Princeton courtyard has three sides and no doors or gates. It says, emphatically, 'Come in.’ Steven Holl's design echoes that three-sided aspect”.
The design offers up a new community space which will not only integrate with the traditional University architecture but will allow a transparency to integrate the energy of the dramatics and other arts into the street. "You will feel like you're almost inside when you're outside and you're passing through," said Holl. "Paul Muldoon's inspiration mixed really well with my idea of porosity."
Encompassing about 130,000 gross sq ft, the three contemporary buildings will share a common reception area and will house several public spaces, including an art gallery, a black box theater, a dance studio and a music rehearsal room. The latter three are designed to serve as both rehearsal and performance venues. The buildings also would house faculty and administrative offices, smaller acting and dance studios, music practice rooms, a 200-seat arced-corner lecture hall, a box office and a café.
Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners are charged with the mission of transit planning and design at the campus and submitted further plans for a potential rezoning at the campus.
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