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

  • Construction Begins on New University Research Vessel

    Boat-building company All American Marine recently announced that it has begun construction on a new catamaran research vessel for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) in Port Aransas, Texas, according to a news release.

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.