The Princeton Charter Club

Location: 79 Prospect Avenue Princeton NJClient: The Princeton Charter ClubStatus: Completed
Architect: Moya ArchitectsDesign: Frank X. Moya AIA LEED Type: COMMERCIAL - Hospitality
Decades of involvement started when the State of New Jersey updated its Fire Code. That meant that many existing facilities serving the public had to upgrade their systems and physical plant. Because of the expense for such upgrades, a phased master plan was worked out with the municipal fire official. Such master plan also presented an opportunity to evaluate the state of the clubhouse's existing conditions and its ability to address the needs of its future membership. As a result, a comprehensive 12-year master plan was developed for phased construction during the school year breaks. These are a few of the projects that were completed in the last 27 years: FIRE SAFETY - The task of updating existing facilities to meet life and safety codes becomes challenging in historical structures. This project required modifications to existing exits, new fire enclosures and upgraded systems, including a new fire suppression sprinkler system. Integrating these modifications in a non obtrusive manner focused our creative talents to an amenable solution. Attention to Detail:
  • Entrances and exits were modified or replaced in a way consistent with the original design of the building to provide sufficient width and ease of operation.
  • The entrance foyer and monumental stair had to be segregated into a separate fire rated zone. To achieve this objective, smoke barrier doors were added. These doorways adopted design elements of the architectural style.
  • The most difficult task involved installing a new sprinkler system within the existing plaster ceilings. This was achieved by doing the installation from the floor above. Removing the floor boards, notching existing joists and then reinforcing them allowed a quick installation without damage to the ornate ceilings.

The mark of a good renovation project is never noticing the changes. ULTRA LOUNGE - Hardly an easy challenge, this small project found new program space by converting an old coal cellar into a lounge. The student-led initiative sought to create a sophisticated place for club members to chill in a stress-free, non-alcoholic venue. The only available space was a former coal cellar used for storage, housing the main sprinkler line and electrical feed to the building. As a result of which, the ceiling was littered with pipes and conduits in a limited headroom space. The concept entailed beaded panel walls in neutral colors with vibrant furniture and carpet to draw the eye away from the cluttered ceiling, allowing the custom-made conversation pit banquettes to define the room. Most of the pipes were to remain exposed, painted on a new dark ceiling together with the new lighting and sound system in order not to diminish the sensation of space. Doors were fitted with portholes to accentuate the steampunk aesthetic of the metal clad, heavily padlocked electrical vault. Attention to Detail:
  • There’s a kevlar underlayment beneath the banquette fabric to prevent high-heel punctures and fabric rips.
  • The ceiling features tight fitting acoustical clouds (Soundscapes by Armstrong) to absorb both direct and reflected noise. They also help to partially cover some of the pipes without encumbering the perceived height of the space. The ceiling and pipes were painted to match the clouds’ dark fabric to camouflage the clutter.
  • The custom-made ottomans and tables are weighted solid with sand to prevent them being carried outside the room, while concealed coasters allow for movement.
SOUTH TERRACE - Originally part of the fire safety improvements, the terrace and stairs required a complete reconstruction and pavement replacement to address drainage concerns with a new channel system, and general maintenance to the exterior of the building. Years before, after careful paint study, the appropriate limestone shade color for the wood trim was reproduced. Albeit trim, it was the custom to substitute wood for where limestone would have been preferred but not allowed by budget. Wood trim requires ventillation, otherwise rots. In addition, a new fire escape had to be unobtrussively accommodated between the upper deck and the terrace. Additionally, the upper deck balustrade was update with a code compliant railing. DINING ROOM EXPANSION - How do you enlarge a Mellor Miegs and Howe landmark without calling undo attention to the addition? In this case, existing building elements were proposed to be reproduced as the basic building blocks to consistently extend the architectural composition of the building. The choice to reuse the original drafted elevations to introduce the addition concept was done on purpose and not happenstance. Can you spot the addition? Exactly!