The Princeton Planning Board was treated to a sneak peak at Princeton University’s proposal to build two new residential colleges on land south of Poe Field at a recent meeting.
And it appears that the Princeton Planning Board was pleased on what was presented.
Princeton University’s concept plan, which was reviewed at the Princeton Planning Board’s Feb. 21 meeting, calls for relocating the soccer and softball fields and the tennis courts to make way for the planned Perelman College and another as-yet-unnamed residential college.
The new residential colleges would accommodate up to 500 students, plus 10 resident graduate students and one faculty-in-residence each. The university plans to expand enrollment by 500 students – 125 students per class – in the next few years, but not all would be housed in the two new colleges.
Undergraduate students are not permitted to keep cars on campus, but they may use paths, bicycles, and the Tiger Transit bus system to travel from place to place. There will be a Tiger Transit connection at the two new colleges.
The new colleges will have courtyards, similar to the older dormitories and colleges on campus, said Ron McCoy, Princeton University’s official architect. There will be a path between the two colleges, which face each other, and a sunken courtyard.
In addition to dormitory rooms, the new buildings will offer social spaces and common areas to bring students together. Each college will have curricular and co-curricular program spaces that range from small music practice rooms to seminar rooms and larger common spaces.
The new buildings would range from four stories to seven stories in height. McCoy said a masonry element is included in the design, although architects are still working on the details.
The colleges would include sustainable design elements, including permeable pavers that allow water to filter through; landscaping with native species; passive solar buildings oriented north to south to take advantage of the sun; and a rain garden.
Planning Board member David Cohen said he liked the concept plan – especially the lawn area. It will “energize” the space and encourage the students to use it, he said.
A formal application has not yet been filed.
