Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Princeton Theological Seminary Restores 1800s-Era Residence Hall

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/19/22

Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J., recently completed the restoration of the second-oldest residence hall on campus, according to a news release. The college partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects LLP (VMA) to modernize Brown Hall, built in 1864. The work covered 46,500 square feet and included interior renovation and exterior rehabilitation, selective demolition, civil work, and landscaping, the news release reports.

The building’s new design exchanges the traditional dorm layout (double-occupancy rooms and communal hallway restrooms) for individual bedrooms featuring private bathrooms. Each floor has a lounge area for group study and socializing, featuring furniture made of wood salvaged from the restoration process. The first floor includes a central lounge area and a kitchenette. Additions also include new lighting fixtures, a new elevator, window blinds, and tiled bathroom floors, according to the news release.

Exterior renovations include a new portico on the north façade and an additional entrance to link the residence hall to the rest of campus, creating a central quad area. The roof now features removable dormers that allow easier access to updated MEP and fire-protection systems. The building has also been updated for accessibility, featuring new ramps with handrails leading to the main entrance.

Princeton Theological Seminary partnered with structural engineer Keast & Hood, MEP engineer Ewing Cole, civil engineer Van Note-Harvey Associates, landscape architect ML Baird & Co. and general contractor Irwin & Leighton.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • St. Lucie County, Fla., Breaks Ground on New K–8 School

    St. Lucie Public Schools in St. Lucie County, Fla., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new K–8 school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., for the design of the upcoming Ft. Pierce K–8 School, which comprises six buildings covering 215,000 square feet.

  • California District Opens New Continuation High School

    The Fort Bragg Unified School District (FBUSD) in Fort Bragg, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Noyo High School, a continuation high school that provides alternative education options for students in grades 6–12, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrochi Kwok Architects for design and FRC Inc. for construction, and the project’s funding came from Local Bond Measure B.

  • Texas A&M Opens First Building at Fort Worth Campus, Breaks Ground on Research Facility

    The Texas A&M University System marked a major milestone in the development of its Fort Worth campus by opening its first completed academic building and breaking ground on a second facility designed to expand research and industry collaboration.