The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, selected EYP Architecture & Engineering to provide architectural and engineering design services for a new Observatory to be used by its Physics students, as well as educational outreach programs and the community at large.

Showcasing EYP’s higher education design and undergraduate science expertise, the project will incorporate findings from a feasibility study conducted by the firm in 2007. The new one-story building will include a small classroom, two telescopes, a control room with instrumentation, and an overnight sleep facility. Located in an open field on the outskirts of campus, the site offers a number of clear advantages for an Observatory, including excellent site lines, minimal light pollution, and proximity to campus along with a quiet and secluded atmosphere. Currently in the design phase, construction is expected to begin in 2011.

Commented EYP Project Executive Ann Barolak, “It isn’t every day that such a technically unique project comes along; a new free-standing Observatory is a fairly rare design opportunity. Our third design project at TCNJ, we are proud to further contribute to the campus and create spaces for the college’s exceptional science programs.” According to TCNJ Director of Campus Planning Lynda Rothermel, “We are pleased to be partnering with EYP Architecture and Engineering on this exciting project, and we are confident that the end result will be an outstanding learning tool for our students.”