New Environmental Studies Building To Be Named Briger Hall

The new home of the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI), the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the Department of Geosciences, and the Princeton Bird Collection will be named Briger Hall in recognition of a major gift from Pete Briger ’86 and his wife, Devon, the University announced in April.

The new building is on the western portion of the Environmental Studies and School of Engineering and Applied Science (ES and SEAS) complex, which is located on Ivy Lane across from Lewis Science Library, Peyton Hall, and Princeton Stadium. Briger Hall is scheduled to open this fall along with the rest of ES and SEAS, which will also include the Ommen-Darling Bioengineering Institute, the chemical and biological engineering department, and shared dining, library, and conference facilities.

“Princeton professors, research faculty, and students have long contributed critical research and scholarship focused on solving the world’s greatest challenges,” the Brigers said in the University’s announcement. “Our hope is that this gift will allow for a hub and engine for the type of interdisciplinary, collaborative, and actionable scholarship that the increasingly complex challenges of today’s world demand.”

Pete Briger previously served on the University’s Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of Princo, and he is currently executive chairman of Fortress Investment Group. He also serves on the board of the University of California, San Francisco Foundation. Devon Briger is chief operating officer for The Acceleration Project, a nonprofit that supports small business owners; a member of the Columbia Business School board; and co-chair of the Child Mind Institute, a nonprofit supporting children with mental health or learning challenges.

Previously, the Brigers joined with three alumni from the Class of 1987 to make a gift that created the DeCenter, which opened in 2022 and supports research and education on blockchain technology.