Frist Health Center construction continues past working hours, disturbing some student residents
Construction on the new Frist Health Center at the university campus has been proceeding into the night, despite local town ordinances limiting construction hours to between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. The university is not subject to these restrictions. Julia Zhou, a resident of Scully Hall and a student in the 2024 class, has reported the nocturnal construction activities to Public Safety (PSAFE) on two occasions since spring break began. She conveyed to The Daily Princetonian her frustrations with the noise and light disturbances late at night.
The Princeton Town Ordinance specifies that construction is not allowed on Sundays, and must not extend past 6 p.m. or start before 7 a.m. on weekdays, with an 8 a.m. start time on Saturdays. Exceptions are only made for urgent work related to public health and safety, and such activities outside normal hours require a permit from the town’s municipal engineer or building official, as outlined in Section 21-2(i) of the ordinance.
University Spokesperson Jennifer Morrill explained that the overnight work on March 19 at the Frist Health Center site was essential because it was obstructing a driveway, creating unsafe conditions for daytime work. A work shift planned for 3 to 11 p.m. on that Tuesday extended beyond the scheduled time due to unexpected issues.
Morrill mentioned that while the university is not obliged to obtain permits for campus construction, they typically involve the municipal engineer in cases where issues like overnight noise might occur.
The Frist Health Center, located near Butler College dorms at the intersection of Guyot Lane and Goheen Walk, is under construction to replace the McCosh Health Center for on-campus healthcare services.
Regarding communication with students about the late-night work, Morrill stated that while there wasn’t direct notification, students have been informed through various means, including decals in public restrooms, that they can contact the Facilities Service Center with any construction-related concerns.
Section 2.2.1 of the Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities document states that dormitory residents can contact public safety officers at any time if they are concerned about excessive noise.
Zhou reported to the ‘Prince’ that she first reached out to Public Safety (PSAFE) on Tuesday, March 12, during spring break, and then again on Monday, March 18, due to the noise disturbances from the construction.
She recounted that on the night of March 18, the construction crew continued working until about 2 a.m. and then resumed early the next morning. On March 12, the construction site was cleared before PSAFE could respond to her call.
University Spokesperson Jennifer Morrill informed that the construction work was initially planned for the spring break week. However, due to unfavorable weather conditions, the project extended into the following week. Morrill confirmed that this phase of the construction has since been completed.
The completion of the Frist Health Center construction is anticipated in 2025. Although there’s no official plan yet for the existing McCosh Health Center, students have proposed various ideas, including converting it into a graduate student center or a campus pub.
Meanwhile, other students have voiced their frustration with the continuous construction across the campus. They feel it is exacerbating the physical divide between different campus areas, leading to growing dissatisfaction and annoyance regarding navigating around the campus.
