Symbiotic Framework for Campus Core and Modern Expansion A Case Study of Princeton University Campus, Princeton USA

Campus core is an essential element in a university's physical environment for symbolic importance of high educational philosophy as well as hierarchical significance of campus structure. Yet, as modern expansion develops into and out of campus core, a challenging design and planning problem for a growing university is how to integrate a new development into the existing core structure and how to expand the fast-growing development beyond the core while maintaining a symbiotic harmony between the campus core and the modern expansion. Such challenge addresses four design frameworks for symbiotic development of the campus core and the modern expansion: (1) building grouping with territorial proximity; (2) building design rules for form and texture; (3) open space network with pedestrian walkway; (4) use-programming for on-campus student community. This study aims to explore these issues with in-depth case study of the Princeton University campus in Princeton, New Jersey in the United States. The study concludes that the Princeton campus is a result from successful synthesis of all the complex design elements, especially in relationship between the old and the new; and adds further that the development of a modern university campus requires a comprehensive plan that takes into account the older buildings when conceiving the new in symbiotic relationship along with open space network as well as functional program distribution.