Five guiding principles

In 2003 anticipating the need for a new campus plan, the University Trustees developed five guiding principles to direct the vision of the future campus.

Maintain a pedestrian-oriented campus

From the heart of the student-oriented campus, the Frist Campus Center, nearly all areas of the core campus are within a ten-minute walk. This "walkable" design is one of the campus' strengths, and a guide for future growth is to maintain that quality. This suggests a strategy of concentration and density rather than diffusion and sprawl.

Preserve the park-like character of the campus

Princeton's characteristic combination of open spaces, gardens, and intimate courtyards creates "the revelation of the unexpected," in the words of the University's master architect of the early 20th century, Ralph Adams Cram. Preserving this park-like quality of the campus is a core principle in planning for the future.

Maintain campus neighborhoods while promoting a sense of community

Future growth should respect Princeton's existing academic, residential, and architectural neighborhoods, providing each with a distinct identity while emphasizing the sense of an integrated campus community.

Develop in an environmentally responsible manner

Building upon Princeton's extensive record in environmental sustainability, new development should be sensitive to the natural landscape, air and water quality, and to energy and resource consumption.

Sustain strong community relations

Orderly growth will require that we sustain our historically strong relationships with the surrounding communities.