Princeton, NJ (PRWEB) December 13, 2014 -- Students and faculty at The Hun School attended a ceremonial Ribbon Cutting on Wednesday, December 10th, which marked the official opening of the long-awaited Wilf Family Global Commons. Student tours of the $9 million, 30,000 square foot dormitory and educational facility, began immediately following the ribbon cutting.
Headmaster Jonathan Brougham welcomed the crowd and student leaders read the newly drafted Global and Immersion Program Mission Statement, before Student Government President Justin Pontrella ’15 and Middle School President Blake Morrisey '19 cut the ribbon. Mr. Brougham described the importance of the first-of-its-kind facility and the shared vision that made it a reality.
“This spectacular facility will promote learning and friendship at The Hun School for many generations to come. State of the art, teleconferencing classrooms will enable our students and teachers to reach around the world for conversations and new perspectives. Comfortable dormitory space will welcome resident students from near and far, from New Jersey, eighteen other states, and twenty-three countries around the world. And, an open inviting campus center will be the new campus gather place for relaxation and friendship.”
The Global Commons’ central location and purpose can be felt in details large and small. At first glance, it blends well with the traditional architecture throughout the school’s campus. Its roof features several large peaks that mimic the iconic Russell Hall. But, that is where the similarities end! Once inside, visitors find a brightly colored modern space with bold shapes and modular seating. A four panel video wall greets visitors with images from BBC, CNN, throughout campus and around the world.
“The building is stunning,” said Anchal Kannambadi ’15. “I was emotional when I walked in for the first time, because I recalled our campus before the building existed. It is a unique building, but it fits our campus so perfectly. I know it’s strange, but I can’t imagine our school without it.”
A dramatic iGlobe lights the landing above the main staircase. It is a spinning orb, upon which scientific educational content about the Earth’s surface is projected. It can be used to view Earth from space, view real-time global weather data, display National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Science on a Sphere® planetary data and more.
The Global Commons also has two large state-of-the-art classrooms, complete with conference software and large screens for collaborating with students and experts around the world. The two rooms easily open into one for evening programs, screenings, and discussions to support the School’s Global and Immersion Programs, a burgeoning focus for Hun School students.
Fifty-six students and four faculty families will begin living in the Global Commons in the coming weeks. They will enjoy the first new dormitory to be built on The Hun School’s campus in five decades. However, the Board of Trustees, hopes the building will also become a central hub of student activity. And, it was designed by the architectural firm Nelson to do draw students in and promote interaction.
The large gathering areas and classrooms feature wall-to-wall windows and vaulted ceilings. The Breen Campus Center, located on the second floor, has a dramatic exposed beam ceiling and brightly colored modular furnishings. It will also be home to the PA café, which will serve new treats such as pizza, smoothies, and specialty coffees day and night.
About The Hun School of Princeton:
The Hun School of Princeton is a co-educational, private day and boarding school in Princeton, New Jersey. Individual attention and strong student-faculty relationships are the hallmarks of the School. On the 45-acre campus between Philadelphia and New York City, student-centered, hands-on learning prepare students for the global community in which they will live and work. The Hun School is comprised of 630 students in its Middle School, Upper School, and Postgraduate Program. The Hun School is home to students from twenty-three countries and eighteen states.
Meghan Poller, The Hun School of Princeton, http://www.hunschool.org, +1 6096130340, [email protected]
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