The Lewis Arts Complex at Princeton University is a striking architectural ensemble featuring three distinct buildings: the Wallace Theater and Dance Building, the Arts Building, and the Music Building. Clad in meticulously crafted natural stone, the complex seamlessly integrates with Princeton's historic campus while establishing a bold contemporary presence. With its prominent stone tower, the Arts Building draws inspiration from the iconic Blair Arch, creating a visual and material connection to the university's architectural legacy.

At the outset, it was evident that the stone selected for this project presented challenges related to structural integrity, consistency, and resilience to the local climate. Additionally, the design of the subframe system raised concerns about long-term performance. The demanding project specifications and code requirements necessitated a thorough understanding and review, putting significant material costs and thousands of dollars in labor at risk.PICCO was brought on board to address these challenges. Recognizing the structural and aesthetic requirements, along with the tight schedule, PICCO developed a plan to mitigate risks while optimizing the purchased stone and the façade design vision.