Alumni, friends, and members of the University community gathered on October 6, 2017, to celebrate the dedication of the Lewis Arts complex, a village-like cluster of buildings—including the Wallace Dance Building and Theater, the New Music Building, and the Arts Tower—and public spaces that showcase the arts at Princeton.
It was made possible with a $101 million gift from the late Peter B. Lewis ’55 and other generous donors, including Monte Wallace ’53 and Neil Wallace ’55.
“The Lewis Center for the Arts sprang from the conviction that the arts enrich our lives, strengthen our connection to one another and the world around us, and engage our imaginations,” said President Christopher Eisgruber ’83. “They broaden our perspectives and inspire the innovative thinking and passionate dedication essential to all areas of study, and to every profession.”
Peter Lewis’s daughter Ivy spoke on behalf of the Lewis family. “Our dad credited Princeton with cementing his drive for excellence,” she said. “He treasured his involvement with Princeton because of Princeton’s unwavering dedication to excellence, which is reflected in this amazing complex, which has literally expanded the boundaries of Princeton’s campus.”
The 145,000-square foot complex was meticulously designed by renowned architect Steven Holl to resonate with the campus’s proportions and architectural traditions.
The dedication ceremony, which featured performances by student artists and remarks by Michael Cadden, chair of the Lewis Center for the Arts, and Wendy Heller, chair of the Department of Music and Scheide Professor of Music History, was part of a four-day celebration of the arts on campus.
Dedication of the Lewis Arts Complex
October 6, 2017
