Princeton Through The Centuries Demystifying Collegiate Gothic: The Many Architectural Styles of Princeton, Bethany R. Villa, UG '26 (132340B9)

From Research Princeton Research Day May 2nd, 2024

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You may know of Princeton’s famous buildings across campus, some like Blair Arch, Firestone, the University Chapel among others but have you ever wondered why these buildings were architecturally designed the way they are or why a particular architectural style stands out more than the rest? My research was devoted to exploring Princeton University’s architectural diversity and stylistic choices to demystify the myth that Princeton’s campus has always been Gothic, a style that’s often regarded as being “original.” Therefore, it looks at Princeton’s architectural composition through the centuries demystifying collegiate gothic architecture using the many architectural styles of Princeton. Our daily interactions with Princeton lead us to often overlook the diversity of architecture on campus. It’s through these interactions that we learn more about the historical roots of Princeton’s architecture as a form of expression of contemporary values and ideas as well as a cultural identity that holds many of us together as we get the chance to interact with this beautiful campus everyday. Gothic as an architectural style has slowly begun to take part of Princeton over the last few years, despite it being simply a style that grew in popularity due to the fact that it created a sense of antiquity and enabled the creation of aesthetically pleasing buildings. My research shows that architecture at Princeton was not initially gothic, but rather a blend of several other styles. By applying a historical lens to my research, I’ve realized that, as campus design and architectural styles evolve, it is essential to analyze these architectural changes both past and present to guide future architectural projects.

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Princeton Through The Centuries Demystifying Collegiate Gothic: The Many Architectural Styles of Princeton, Bethany R. Villa, UG '26 (132340B9)

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