Advisory board approves plans for Washington Road projects
By: Nick Norlen
Plans for a new Princeton University chemistry building and pedestrian bridge over Washington Road received approval from Princeton’s Site Plan Review Advisory Board on Wednesday.
The board’s decision allows the application to go before the Princeton Regional Planning Board on June 21.
The chemistry building, to be located on the former site of the armory on Washington Road near Princeton Stadium, will be four stories and approximately 250,000 square feet.
The pedestrian bridge will span 300 feet and will be 20 feet above Washington Road at its highest point.
If approved, the concurrent projects are scheduled to be completed in 2010.
The advisory board’s vice chairman, Harry Cooke, who acted as the chairman of Wednesday’s meeting in place of Chairman William Wolfe, who works for the university and did not attend, said the board approved the application with only minor recommendations for revision.
Among the issues that the board asked the applicant to address are vehicular and pedestrian movements on the bridge and the plaza adjacent to the bridge. Other issues included sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting under the bridge.
"One of the things that we were more concerned about was the plaza," he said, noting that the university wants to "make it into a walking-friendly area."
He added, "So they’re trying to work on ways in which to keep any vehicles from going in there," he said. "They have to work on that and that was part of our recommendations to the Planning Board."
Along with concerns about pedestrian traffic, the board discussed changes in parking, Mr. Cooke said.
He said 91 parking spaces near the future site of the building would be shifted to Lot 20, which is across Washington Road from the proposed building.
Overall, Mr. Cooke expressed enthusiasm for the project.
"The design of the bridge is excellent. It’s going to be beautiful," he said. "The university has done a great job in both the bridge and chemistry building."
Kristin Appelget, the university’s community and regional affairs director, said the university staff has been working hard to ensure a smooth process.
"I think what you’re seeing here is that there has been a lot of productive dialogue on the staff level to make sure that the best plan is coming to the board," she said.
Ms. Appelget said the chemistry building is being designed with several features to promote sustainability.
London’s Hopkins Architects is collaborating with Boston’s Payette Associates on the building design, and the pedestrian bridge is being designed by Swiss engineer Christian Menn along with New York architectural firm HNTB.
As part of the project, Armory Drive will become Jadwin Drive, Ms. Appelget said.
In addition, she said the pedestrian bridge will be funded by a private donor and will be named Streiker Bridge for class of 1964 member John Streiker.

