In Short: International Building; Former Architecture Dean

A portion of the former Frick Chemistry Lab on Washington Road will be known as the Louis A. Simpson *60 International Building when it opens after renovations are completed this summer. Simpson and his wife, Kimberly K. Querrey, gave $20 million to fund the building, which will house international initiatives that include the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, the bridge-year program, and the Davis International Center. 

The Simpson International Building will be adjacent to the new home of the economics department. 

Simpson is chairman of SQ Advisors, an investment management firm. He is a former president and CEO for capital operations at Geico.

Professor Alejandro Zaera-Polo is challenging in state Superior Court the University’s investigation of claims that led to President Eisgruber ’83’s request that he step down as dean of the architecture school in October 2014. At issue was a chapter Zaera-Polo wrote for the exhibition catalog of the Venice Biennale 2014, omitting citations in what he said was an effort to make it more accessible for a general readership. Less than two months after an anonymous online blog post alleged that Zaera-Polo had been accused of plagiarism, Eisgruber called for the dean’s immediate resignation, according to Zaera-Polo’s lawsuit. Princeton said the dean was asked to resign “because of statements he made in writing that indicated he was unfamiliar with the University’s policy on plagiarism.”

The suit states that Eisgruber acted before “a proper investigation had been completed” and that the University disclosed confidential materials, and it charges breach of contract, trade libel, and defamation. In a statement after the suit was filed, the University said it was “confident that the officials and faculty members who investigated and adjudicated the claims against Professor Zaera-Polo did so fairly and in accordance with University policies and procedures.” Zaera-Polo remains a faculty member.