Architects:Steven Holl Architects

Year:2022

Photographs:Paul Warchol

Structural Engineering:Guy Nordenson and Associates

Sustainability:Transsolar

Civil Engineering:Van Note Harvey

Lighting Design:L’Observatoire International

Landscape Architecture:Ed Hollander Landscape Architects

Client:Institute for Advanced Study

Deisgn Principal:Steven Holl

Partner In Charge:Noah Yaffe

Project Architect Associate:Christina Yessios

Assistant Project Architect:Yun Shi

Custom Fabrication Specialist:Michael Haddy

Project Team:Xi Chen, Carolina Cohen Freue, Michael Haddy, Marcus Carter, Alessandra Catherine Calaguire, Elise Riley

Kitchen:JME Hospitality

Water Feature:AquaDesign

MEPF:ICOR

Cost Consulting:Dharam Consulting

Curtain Wall Consultants:knippershelbig GmbH

City:Princeton

Country:United States

Text description provided by the architects. The Rubenstein Commons at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, NJ, established in 1930, is a new commons building on the historic campus. It is sited near the Institute’s flagship 1939 building Fuld Hall where Albert Einstein spent his last thinking years.

The design for Rubenstein Commons is driven by the concept of intertwining. Exterior circulation weaves into and through the building. The building is conceived as a social condenser with a variety of flexible meeting spaces supporting community and academic life on the IAS campus. The new building follows the existing topography primarily in a single-level program with gradual slopes and offers views of the courtyards.

The building forms an intertwining through the landscape, connecting with pools of water on the north, south, and west. The pools reflect sunlight into interior spaces, producing an atmosphere of reflection. Natural phenomena connect with science, physics, humanities, and art—corresponding to the Institute’s mission.

The geometry of the spaces is formed by “space curves” where two non-planar curves intersect. As former IAS Director Robbert Dijkgraaf remarks, the curved ceilings give space for the “thought bubbles” of the scholars.

Blackboards of natural slate, a storied tradition for intellectual curiosity and exchange at the IAS, line the interiors. Prismatic glass breaks white light into the color spectrum, energizing the interiors with natural light and color. Custom hand-blown light fixtures illuminate the curved ceiling geometry. Door handles inspired by knot theory and custom waterspouts greet visitors at the east and west entries to the building.

The landscape around the pools measures the time of a year’s passing through the four seasons. Spring is marked on the east side with pink blooming redbuds emerging in clusters along branches of the grove. Summer is marked to the south with rich green leaves of ginkgo trees, accented by Russian Sage purple flowers. Fall is marked to the west with vibrant red maples and the golden ginkgo leaves provide a striking contrast around the south reflecting pool. The north gardens are framed with a border of white pines and American hollies providing a green backdrop in the winter but also year-round.

20 geothermal wells powered by the cycle of the earth’s seasonal temperature heat and cool the building with radiant floors. Natural ventilation in wood-framed windows brings light and air into all spaces.

Project gallery

Project location

Address:Princeton, NJ, United States