Summer of Improvement: Trinity College Renovates, Reinvents, and Renews the Campus for the Fall

Jay Park ’22

News Editor

According to an email sent out by President Berger-Sweeney, the campus received several notable renovations over the summer. The one most recognizable to students would be the redesigned lobby of Mather, home to the school dining hall, campus store, the Cave, and many other important offices on campus. The College mission statement “Engage, Connect, Transform” has been added to the recently painted walls. Another important change was an updated heating and cooling system installed in Austin Arts Center. According to the president’s memo, the previous outdated steam pipe system has been replaced by a new system that will be in place for the next 30 years. Additionally, Ferris Athletic Center received a new renovation with the replacement of bleachers in the gym.
The college devoted much time and effort into the renovation of the Cross-Cultural Living Community (CCLC), Doonesbury Hall. Doonesbury received a brand new kitchen for students to use, and according to Doonesbury resident Simran Subramaniam ’22, this addition has been instrumental in “bringing together the residents of this already close-knit community.” While Doonesbury Hall itself has existed for a long time (it was formerly known as PRAXIS, a living community dedicated to Trinity students with an active interest in community engagement in the Hartford area), only recently was it transformed into what it is today. “This space was created as a way for those abroad to feel at home and allow those to become more integrated not just into college but America itself” explained Assistant Professor of Political Science Reo Matsuzaki, who also served as a member of the committee that created the CCLC in a Tripod article from last spring.
Lastly, the Summit Facilities Committee (SFC) will begin to remove the trees located along Broad and Vernon streets. As the advisory committee dedicated to the preservation and safety of the students and the campus itself, the committee came to the conclusion that many of the trees located on these two streets suffer from a myriad of problems, ranging from Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer beetles. According to Vice President of Finance and Operations Dan Hitchell in a community-wide email, the trees will be removed before winter so as to mitigate the damages cause by falling branches, and the school is “working on plans to replace the trees in the spring.”