The two sides of campus now separated by Washington Road will soon be linked by a graceful pedestrian bridge. The new span, a gift of John Harrison Streicker ’64, will create easy access to the science buildings on both sides of the road, making it a key element of the University’s planned “science neighborhood,” where students and faculty will join together to explore everything from subatomic particles to galaxies.
“This bridge will serve many purposes,” said President Tilghman. “It will stand as a symbol of the connection among the various disciplines on campus, and make navigating campus safer and easier for pedestrians. We are tremendously grateful to John Streicker for his thoughtful generosity.”
Streicker, the father of three Princeton alumni—Margaret R. Streicker Porres ’97, Michael F. Streicker ’99, and Elizabeth K. Streicker ’02—said he is funding the span in large part to thank the University for the connections it has created in his own life. “Because the University helped bridge two generations in my family, I thought building an actual bridge was a particularly appropriate way to give back,” said Streicker. “I am thrilled to be part of this important project.”
The 300-foot-long bridge will rise 30 feet above Washington Road between Carl Icahn Laboratory, home of the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, on the west, and Jadwin Hall, housing the physics department, and a new chemistry building, on the east. It will serve as a vital connection in an area that already houses a number of science departments and initiatives, many of which thrive on crossdisciplinary work. In addition, this burgeoning part of campus is soon to be home to even more science-related structures: a science library, under construction now; the new chemistry building that will replace the 77-year-old Frick Laboratory farther north; and two new buildings being designed for Princeton’s psychology department and recently launched neuroscience institute.
The bridge will also allow for easier, safer access to the University stadium and other athletic facilities. It is being designed by the acclaimed Swiss bridge engineer Christian Menn in collaboration with the HNTB engineering and design company, whose lead engineer for the project is Theodore P. Zoli III ’88.
Streicker, a Woodrow Wilson School major and graduate of Yale Law School, is chairman of the board of New York City-based Sentinel Real Estate Corporation, a leading real estate asset manager and one of the largest holders of apartment properties in the United States. He also serves on the boards of a number of organizations, including the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, the Wildlife Australia Fund, and Temple Emanu-El in New York City. From 2001 to 2005, Streicker was a member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. In addition, he is a former chair of Community Board 5, a New York City municipal advisory group covering much of midtown Manhattan.
Streicker also has experience with projects intended to bridge distances at the University. Among his many gifts to Princeton is Streicker Walk, which provides a connection from Washington Road to Prospect House. “It’s nice to know that I have had a role in building two shortcuts to navigate the Princeton campus,” Streicker said.
