In response to the rapid growth of the School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS), Princeton University is renovating 95,000GSF of the existing Guyot Hall and adding 136,000GSF resulting in the brand-new 231,000GSF Eric & Wendy Schmidt Hall. The new facility will serve as a unified home for computer research and provide modernized space for the Department of Computer Science, Center for IT Policy, Center for Statistics & Machine Learning, and the Princeton Institute for Computational Science & Engineering.

The new facility will provide students and faculty with access to state-of-the-art classrooms, teaching laboratories, and specialized research laboratories. An auditorium style lecture hall is located on the first floor of the building and will have the ability to accommodate 120 students. Additionally, a 60-seat conference room provides ample space for presentations and large meetings. Department of Computer Science faculty will also receive upgraded office space, with an abundance of natural light in alignment with the building’s sustainability goals.

Students within the computer sciences will have access to upgraded laboratory space, including an Optics Lab, Fabrication Lab, and a Wireless Networking Lab. Additionally, a Human-Computer Interaction Lab and a Robotics Innovation Lab live on the third floor of the building and provide ample space for ongoing research and development. The Central Commons provides students with opportunities for intellectual collaboration and to potentially foster scholarly partnerships.

The Eric & Wendy Schmidt Hall is seeking LEED Certification and has prioritized sustainability throughout the design process. The building’s addition will utilize mass timber in its construction, and the entire facility will provide patrons with an abundance of natural lighting. A courtyard and a large, raised terrace will provide students with a place to relax and recharge, while adding to the geo-exchange heating & cooling system.