Collegiate Gothic, Princeton University Chapel; Industialization and the City- Emilia Kightley-Sutter

COLLEGIATE GOTHIC- PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

Collegiate Gothic is a modern time form of Gothic Revival design, mostly applied in Canada and America. It became popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s in high schools and historic, wealthy colleges. The inspiration comes from old European Gothic buildings and mimics styles elements of the Gothic just for show without function. It has a purpose of implying history although the outside ornament was for show and not aged throughout the years.

In 1924 Princeton University Chapel began construction after the original one burned to the ground, the chapel seats close to 2,000 people and was built approximately 200 years after Gothic style architecture faded out of style. It finished construction in 1928 and has had several renovations since, including one in 2002 which cost the institution $10 million.  Although this building was constructed for modern needs, the Gothic style predominates all, it is picturesque and dramatic. This building cost what would be 32.8 million dollars. There is really no reason for the medieval icon to be so massive besides implied dominance over less fortunate structures. The message is stale and fools audiences into believing the wisdom the chapel must hold.

Although picturesque and dramatic, the chapel resembles the size of a small cathedral of the English middle ages. It’s size is comparable to the King’s College Chapel at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. Universities in the United States have always admired the influence of English Universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, the Universities in the U.S. that became the Ivy League were meant to resemble the iconic Oxford  construction around a quadrangle. Early 18th century Universities however were poor and more devoted to academic knowledge rather flashy massive buildings. The architect, Ralph Adams Cram, wanted this structure to be the colleges “crown jewel” and evoke a sense of pride for the members of Princeton’s establishment (as if being an Ivy League wasn’t enough). The official Office of Religious Life refers to the Princeton chapel as the third-largest university chapel in the entire world.

The chapels main foundation is poured concrete. The exterior structure is Pennsylvania sandstone and Indiana limestone  for the trim which come together to form a great mass that reads as incredible heavy and well, massive. The main area of the chapel consists of a gallery, a nave, two transepts joined by a crossing, and an elevated choir. The walls surrounding the choir have some sound absorbing tile which is a modern use of the material to benefit the function. The chapel's extravagant  decor consists of stained glass, stone masonry, and wood carvings. The stained glass windows on 4 facades face cardinal direction, the walls of the interior choi also have Christian monumental windows in which the stained glass tells a story of faith. The interior ornament was designed by Albert M. Friend, one of Princeton’s Department of Art and Archaeology faculty members, he wanted to fuse Christian faith and modern ideas together to create the beautiful monstrosity.

Works Cited

Meyer, Robinson. "How Gothic Architecture Took Over the American College Campus." The Atlantic. N.p., 11 Sept. 2013. Web. 11 Mar. 2018.

Watkin, David. "8." A History of Western Architecture. London: Laurence King, 2015. 391-416. Print.

Leitch, Alexander. "Chapel, The University,." Princeton University. The Trustees of Princeton University, 1978. Web. 12 Mar. 2018.