Princeton's Campus Plan - new arts, sciences, recreation...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
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<p>Anyone deciding where to go to college ought to take a look at Princeton's campus plan. The impact of the large donations of the past few years, for Neuroscience, and the arts, as well as the university's continuing improvement of the facilities, combined with the unique access to nature and New York City, are shown here pretty clearly. To say nothing of the way the four-year residential colleges will balance out the Street, the Street stays in place as a place for accessible parties, and the arts and transit neighborhood opens up the school even more to New York and the arts community there.</p>

<p>And they plan to preserve the walk-across it, have green lawns and woods aspects of the campus.</p>

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<p>The campus plan as shown in the new brochure that was part of the last PAW issue and the online brochures is very rigorous. You can check it out online here:
Princeton</a> Campus Plan - Home</p>

<p>IMO, the most ambitious elements of the entire project is the construction of the new "Arts and Transit Neighborhood". Although I probably will not be taking advantage of this new development, it is really something Princeton needs, mostly because at present, the performing arts and visual arts are crammed very tightly together in a few scattered buildings, with only one directly connected to a performance venue (185 Nassau, James Stewart '32 Theater). The new structures will allow them to be consolidated and expanded (in terms of floor space) at the same time.
The "Transit Plaza" is just a way to alleviate the annoyance of having to move the Dinky station further south. I'm hoping that they will provide room for airport shuttles and charter buses, so that they don't have to park in the lots near Jadwin Gymnasium or wind through Faculty Road to get to Lots 6 and 7. </p>

<p>The development of the Natural Sciences Neighborhood and New Butler College is the most interesting to me. Once the Lewis Science Library is completed, I will probably set up shop there for good. Otherwise, the new Chemistry and Neuroscience facilities will be a vast improvement over Frick and Green Halls, and there will finally be a reasonable way to cross the speedy traffic of Washington Road with the new bridge. </p>

<p>New Butler College, I feel, could end up being one of the nicest places to live on campus, especially if you are a "down-campus" person. Science students would enjoy the proximity to their places of work and study, especially because of the improved Goheen Walk/ Washington Rd. crossings.</p>

<p>My only gripe is that it seems the university has no intention of removing or renovating the original Wilson College buildings: 1937-1939, Dodge-Osborn, Gauss, and Wilcox Hall. These buildings are ugly and in many cases are in need of repair, and they will be a sore sight when the rest of campus is being rejuvenated, even Butler College. Also, Wilson College's layout is and will be the least contiguous of all the residential colleges, and I think that really will make residential college life suffer, as students will be more attracted to the newer facilities and better offerings (especially dining) of the other colleges. It will be a big mistake not to "update" Wilson soon. </p>

<p>Anyway, thats my $0.02! Enjoy browsing the Campus Plan.</p>

<p>Princeton University: Under Construction since 1746...don't worry we'll let you know when its done.</p>

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<p>What is the atarget date for completion of this project?</p>

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<p>Its actually more like 7 major projects, and tens more smaller projects, but I think all of this is projected to be completed by 2016. However, some parts of the campus plan will be completed within the next 1-2 years, including the Lewis Science Library which will be completed this fall, New Butler College which should be completed in 2009, and the new Chemistry Building and Washington Rd. Pedestrian Bridge which should be completed by 2010.</p>