David Adjaye's new project for the Princeton University Art Museum has emerged from scandal to deliver an unexpected triumph. The Ghanaian-British architect's meteoric rise turned into a dramatic fall after three women accused him of sexual assault and harassment in 2023, leading to numerous projects being cancelled. However, Princeton University persevered, handing over day-to-day coordination to Cooper Robertson and refusing to let the scandal overshadow its ambitious new museum.
The result is a stunning building that wraps around the heart of the university's leafy campus like a cluster of serrated concrete bunkers. The imposing structure boasts a vault-like quality, fitting for a repository housing Princeton's astonishing collection of art and antiquities – 117,000-strong and spanning centuries. For once, the absence of a celebrity creator allows attention to fall on those who led the project after Adjaye stepped back, chiefly Marc McQuade, Erin Flynn, and Ron McCoy.
Upon entering the museum, visitors are greeted by Nick Cave's colossal mosaic figure leaning forward in a riotous gesture of welcome, setting the tone for an immersive experience. The grand hall is a triple-height space with hefty concrete buttresses supporting two-metre-deep wooden glulam beams framing skylights above. A clever sequence of galleries switches size, height and colour to avoid museum fatigue.
"We wanted it to feel like an open thoroughfare," says chief curator Juliana Ochs Dweck, "If the students happen to see a couple of works on their way through, and get interested in the arts, that's a bonus." The hope is that visitors will have accidental encounters on their way from A to B, with productively lost wanderings encouraged.
This model of collaboration has clearly paid off. While David Adjaye's institutional work at scale has often been disappointing, this project stands as a testament to the value of experienced lead architects, collaborative contractors, and a model client. The Princeton museum is leagues ahead, a rare success story for an architect whose name still hangs above the office door.
The result is a stunning building that wraps around the heart of the university's leafy campus like a cluster of serrated concrete bunkers. The imposing structure boasts a vault-like quality, fitting for a repository housing Princeton's astonishing collection of art and antiquities – 117,000-strong and spanning centuries. For once, the absence of a celebrity creator allows attention to fall on those who led the project after Adjaye stepped back, chiefly Marc McQuade, Erin Flynn, and Ron McCoy.
Upon entering the museum, visitors are greeted by Nick Cave's colossal mosaic figure leaning forward in a riotous gesture of welcome, setting the tone for an immersive experience. The grand hall is a triple-height space with hefty concrete buttresses supporting two-metre-deep wooden glulam beams framing skylights above. A clever sequence of galleries switches size, height and colour to avoid museum fatigue.
"We wanted it to feel like an open thoroughfare," says chief curator Juliana Ochs Dweck, "If the students happen to see a couple of works on their way through, and get interested in the arts, that's a bonus." The hope is that visitors will have accidental encounters on their way from A to B, with productively lost wanderings encouraged.
This model of collaboration has clearly paid off. While David Adjaye's institutional work at scale has often been disappointing, this project stands as a testament to the value of experienced lead architects, collaborative contractors, and a model client. The Princeton museum is leagues ahead, a rare success story for an architect whose name still hangs above the office door.
they handled a super scandalous situation surrounding david adjaye (he was accused of harassment and stuff) but instead of letting it ruin the whole project, they just went with a new team lead and it paid off big time 
but in a good way! they have this huge mosaic figure by nick cave at the entrance and it's so immersive 
and the way they designed the galleries to avoid fatigue? genius 
but princeton museum is definitely a win! the collaboration and attention to detail are on point 
[link to pics](https://www.archdaily.com/143123/princeton-university-art-museum-david-adjaye)
. I mean, a scandal like that, it just doesn't happen overnight... and then suddenly he's out and a whole new team comes in? It reeks of sabotage to me. But, I guess the powers that be at Princeton University decided to roll with it and make something amazing instead 
... but don't think I'm buying all the sweetness about this being a "model of collaboration" 
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but then they went and did it anyway, and it's honestly STUNNING!!! 
the way it wraps around the campus is so cool, and that mosaic figure by nick cave tho? 
its like walking into a dream world! i love how they got a whole team of architects and curators to work together on this, its all about creating an immersive experience for visitors 
marc mcquade, erin flynn, and ron mccoy are literally the unsung heroes here 
and juliana ochs dweck is so smart with her design choices 
The fact that Cooper Robertson, Marc McQuade, Erin Flynn, and Ron McCoy were able to bring Adjaye's vision to life despite the drama is a testament to their skills and commitment 
This whole experience reminds me of how politics often work - it's not about the individual leader, but about the coalition behind them. If more politicians could learn from this project, we might just see some amazing progress! 
it's like nothing you've ever seen before! david adjaye may have had a rough patch in his past but this project is proof that he can create something truly special. and the best part? it wasn't even built by him anymore 
it just goes to show that sometimes, stepping aside and letting others take over can lead to some amazing things. i love how the team worked together with nick cave's incredible mosaic piece - it sets the tone for an immersive experience! 
Do you think that's an important thing to acknowledge?
! It just goes to show that with the right team behind you, you can turn a potentially disastrous situation into a triumph 
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It's all about creating those accidental encounters and productively lost wanderings. Pure genius 
I'm so stoked to see how Princeton University didn't let the scandal bring them down! They really showed that they're all about the art and the students, not just the big-name architects 
. I love how they prioritized collaboration and had experienced lead architects at the helm - it's all about the people working together for the greater good 
. And that mosaic by Nick Cave? Mind blown 
! It's a testament that even in tough times, we can create something truly beautiful and uplifting 
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i mean, 117,000 art pieces? that's some serious collection 
it's like a mini art world in there 
It's like they took all the drama and turned it into a silver lining... well done, PR! 
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