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Princeton Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/06/22

Last month, officials at Princeton University gathered to break ground on the Lake Campus Development in West Windsor, N.J. The project is the university’s first major campus expansion in the city, though a press release states that it will be constructed on land that the university has owned for over a hundred years.

Once complete, the development will contain amenities like graduate housing for more than 600 students; a parking garage with the capacity for 600 vehicles; a new racquet center; a softball stadium; rugby and recreation fields; a cross-country course; and a central utility building called the “TIGER-CUB,” or “thermally-integrated geo-exchange resource central utility building,” to help heat and cool structures. The university is partnering with architecture firm SOM and construction manager P. Agnes.

“We have appreciated the support of stakeholders and partners at the local, county and state level as we developed plans for this first phase of Lake Campus,” said Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber. “We are especially appreciative of the warm welcome that we have received from officials in West Windsor.”

The work is scheduled to be done in two phases. The first phase will lie the new development’s infrastructure, including roads and underground utilities, as well as the graduate housing and parking amenities. This phase is expected to be complete in 2023. The athletics facilities currently have an estimated completion date of 2025.

Eisgruber also commented that the Lake Campus Development will also open up potential space for new scientific facilities. “We look forward to continued engagement in future phases as we refine our vision for additional facilities that will advance the University’s mission and enhance our ability to make an impact on the world,” he said.

The project is designed to help Princeton University meet its sustainability goals like stormwater management using green infrastructure and aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2046.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

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