Princeton University

Centrally located on the university’s historic campus, the new Princeton University Art Museum nearly doubled the available space for the exhibition, conservation, study, and interpretation of the museum’s expansive and diverse collections. Designed by Adjaye Associates on the site of the original museum, the new facility provides ample gathering and social spaces as well as numerous visitor amenities. Outdoor terraces accommodate approximately 2,000 people, while pedestrian “art walks” flow into and through the museum, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The Department of Art & Archaeology made its new home in the building, and the Marquand Library remained.

While the new museum allows much of the collection to be displayed on a single level, the building spans three stories and features seven primary, interconnected pavilions. The pavilions vary in size to accommodate large collections while also offering more intimate spaces. Four pavilions located at each corner of the building incorporate grand 18-foot-high ceilings, daylighting, hardwood floors, and a Glulam ceiling that conceals many of the building systems. At the center of the museum, a double-height Grand Hall serves as a lecture hall and performance space, supporting special events and larger gatherings.

Kohler Ronan designed the HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Protection systems, as well as performed energy analysis in support of the museum’s unique collections and related programming. Prototype CFD models were developed to optimize airflow in gallery spaces. The firm worked closely with the university’s sustainability and facilities teams to ensure the systems were both sensitive to the collections and aligned with the campus’s sustainability goals. Kohler Ronan’s design also accommodates the connection to campus utilities, which are being converted from a steam-based cogeneration plant to a hot water-based geo-exchange system.

Photo credit: Renderings Courtesy of Adjaye Associates