Keast & Hood was part of the team that renovated the 1891 academic building into a new home for the Department of Anthropology.

James McCosh, Princeton President from 1868-1888, commissioned 14 campus buildings and tripled enrollment during his tenure. One of the buildings constructed during this era is the Chemical Laboratory, renamed Aaron Burr Hall in the 1970s to honor Princeton’s second president. The building was designed by Richard Morris Hunt in the Renaissance Revival style. It was the first academic building east of Washington Road, representing Princeton’s expansion beyond the traditional campus core. The building was constructed of brick and sandstone with iron beams supporting brick arches and terra cotta flat tile floor systems. Brick partitions were utilized for fireproofing.

The complex 20,000-sf renovation included structural engineering for interior renovations and a new, three-story addition. On the interior, two-story spaces were infilled to provide more usable square footage within the building. Masonry bearing walls and an egress stair were relocated, and a tiered classroom was constructed. The majority of the space within the original building is now dedicated to offices, seminar rooms, and classrooms. The 10,000-sf steel-framed addition completes the center portion of the L-shaped building. It replaces a two-story 1950s addition and marks the building’s new main entrance. The addition includes restrooms, an elevator, exit stair, lobby, and a two-story lounge.

Keast & Hood was part of the team that renovated the 1891 academic building into a new home for the Department of Anthropology.

James McCosh, Princeton President from 1868-1888, commissioned 14 campus buildings and tripled enrollment during his tenure. One of the buildings constructed during this era is the Chemical Laboratory, renamed Aaron Burr Hall in the 1970s to honor Princeton’s second president. The building was designed by Richard Morris Hunt in the Renaissance Revival style. It was the first academic building east of Washington Road, representing Princeton’s expansion beyond the traditional campus core. The building was constructed of brick and sandstone with iron beams supporting brick arches and terra cotta flat tile floor systems. Brick partitions were utilized for fireproofing.

The complex 20,000-sf renovation included structural engineering for interior renovations and a new, three-story addition. On the interior, two-story spaces were infilled to provide more usable square footage within the building. Masonry bearing walls and an egress stair were relocated, and a tiered classroom was constructed. The majority of the space within the original building is now dedicated to offices, seminar rooms, and classrooms. The 10,000-sf steel-framed addition completes the center portion of the L-shaped building. It replaces a two-story 1950s addition and marks the building’s new main entrance. The addition includes restrooms, an elevator, exit stair, lobby, and a two-story lounge.

CLIENT: KSS Architects
LOCATION: Princeton, NJ

TYPE: Academic, Historic, SERVICES: Addition, Renovation, MATERIALS: Masonry, Steel, SUSTAINABILITY: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Completed project photography © Barry Halkin