Princeton University’s Center for Jewish Life Undergoes Renovation

Architecture and design firm JZA+D recently completed an energy-efficient renovation and refurbishment of Princeton University’s Center for Jewish Life (CJL) in Princeton, NJ, a multipurpose facility housing assembly, education, and office functions and originally designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects in 1993.

Princeton University’Center for Jewish Life

Highly popular with students ever since opening, the wear-and-tear on the CJL was to be expected. Spearheaded by Joshua Zinder, AIA, founding principal of JZA+D, the renovation project did more than merely replace the worn-out finishes. About 17,800 square feet of building area has now been completely refreshed—finishes, furnishing, and fixtures—while mechanical systems and exterior building envelope including windows and front doors have been upgraded to reduce both energy consumption and long-term maintenance requirements.

“Today, students and other users of the Center for Jewish Life experience better organized interiors, new signage, and wayfinding. Also, improved lighting and artwork help bring the Center for Jewish Life up to the high standards that Princeton University consistently offers in all its campus facilities," says Zinder, vice president-elect of AIA New Jersey.

Featured

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Reopens Following $25M Campus Modernization

    Haʻaheo Elementary School in Hilo, Hawaii, has reopened to students following a three-year, $25-million campus modernization and expansion project that significantly increases the school's instructional space while preserving one of the island's oldest educational institutions, according to local news.

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.