Concept Design

The “concept design” is a vision for the kind of academic center that Trinity could create to achieve its long-range goals for academic excellence, creativity and greater capacity.

View from Franklin Street – EYP Architects

View from the Main Hall circle

Charge to the Architects

Architects studied current space utilization and needs, and identified potential efficiencies to be sure that every new square foot built is truly necessary. Trinity insisted that the architects envision a world-class place for Trinity’s academic life that will be beautiful and welcoming, a powerful symbol of Trinity’s intellectual values and institutional ambition for future generations of Trinity students and faculty.

The Trinity Academic Center will not only serve the functional purposes of instruction, but will truly transform and raise up Trinity’s academic profile and reputation for future excellence.

Principal Features

The primary new academic building will integrate 24 classrooms for all disciplines alongside 11 laboratories for the sciences and health professions. See the floor plans.

A New Performance and Lecture Space

The current Science Building, deeply appreciated for all that it has meant to Trinity over the years, is not a strong enough structure to keep or renovate. Trinity will demolish the Science Building as part of this project.

A professional auditorium is an essential part of a university campus today, but Trinity lacks this fundamental facility. The Trinity Academic Center will include a 400-seat auditorium equipped for instructional and presentation purposes.

Sun-filled Atriums

Gathering spaces are few and far between on Trinity’s campus today, with students and faculty alike yearning for more commodious spaces to meet informally, study together and share the common life of the university. In addition to 22 new faculty offices and meeting rooms, the Trinity Academic Center concept includes two multi-story entrance atriums – one at the new south entrance, one facing Main Hall. These convenient, bright common areas are adjacent to study lounges, computer labs and student life amenities including café options.

Outdoor plazas at the south entrance and on the side of the building facing Main Hall will be landscaped to create welcome places for quiet reflection and social interaction as students, faculty and staff hurry to and from classes.