Designers found value in underutilized spaces, including a basement that became a lounge and getaway spot for resident assistants.
Forgotten Spaces
At Trinity University, targeted renovations are thoughtfully building upon existing locations to create student-centric environments that elevate the campus experience.
By Kevin Brass
Every day, hundreds of students living in Trinity University’s Witt-Winn Hall walked through the Witt Center on their way to somewhere else. With its curtains that didn’t work and a tired reception desk, students sailed past the support services, barely noticing the space that was part of legendary Texas architect O’Neil Ford’s original campus design.
As Trinity leaders worked to modernize the San Antonio campus, their attention increasingly turned to underutilized areas like the Witt lobby — intersections of campus life that touch students and faculty every day but had fallen out of favor. Ignored and forgotten, these high-traffic spaces were an untapped resource.
“Even small renovation projects contribute to our long-term strategy of upgrading facilities in a thoughtful, incremental way that supports academic excellence and a strong campus experience,” says Jeff Meischen, Trinity’s Interim Director of Campus Planning and Project Development.
Several spaces were identified for targeted interventions. Following the guidelines of a campus master plan approved in 2017, campus leaders were looking for opportunities to improve collaboration, engagement and the student experience. There was little money available. But designers were tasked to explore the possibilities for adding value and bringing life to these neglected environments.
The new lobby space creates a more welcoming environment for staff to interact with students.
Strong Roots
The Trinity campus was designed by O’Neil Ford, widely regarded as the godfather of modern Texas architecture. Any modernization efforts needed to create visual continuity and reinforce a sense of place that is an essential part of the campus.
The Witt Center was built in 1968 as part of the original campus. The reception area is home to the Residential Life Office but was primarily viewed as a pass-through space connecting the residential dorm building with the rest of campus. Originally intended as a lounge area, the space had been renovated several times over the years, resulting in a blocked-off, dark environment.
“We started by peeling back the layers to reveal the space’s true, authentic character,” says Project Interior Designer Cecilia Gutierrez.
Designers focused on creating a more social space for students and faculty to linger, increasing chances for connections and collaboration. Mechanized curtains helped open the space to natural light and returned the focus to the existing marble fireplace. A variety of seating, storage and “tack-able” surfaces created usable, easily reconfigured lounge spaces. A new reception desk was designed as a social area, with high-top seating to encourage students to sit and talk with administrators. Office areas were opened up with glass doors, part of a campus-wide initiative to increase transparency.
As a bonus, an existing basement area was turned into a lounge for resident assistants, including a kitchen, work area and small conference room.
A Home for International Engagement
Across campus, the four-story Northrup Hall, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, is going through a phased renovation. (A later phase includes an LPA-designed financial one-stop shop, where students will be able to address all their financial needs, from parking bills to financial aid.)
On the first floor, a dark, walled-off corridor was targeted as the new home for the Center for International Engagement (CIE), which had been housed in the basement of the school’s library. The CIE was taking over the corridor and two offices and needed a welcoming space that could serve as a gathering place and to host events and learning activities. Designers worked with the CIE to develop the environment around a pedagogy focused on building an international community, says Katsuo Nishikawa, Ph.D, director of the CIE.
“When we started thinking about this space, we started thinking about, how does one teach international education and what does it mean and what is it,” Nishikawa says. “LPA’s designers were really interested in transforming the pedagogy into a physical space, and they knew that copying and pasting ideas was not necessarily going to work here. They had to be thinking outside the box, too.”
The redesign of the Northrup Hall space created a hub of activity around the Center for International Engagement.
Pre-construction meetings provided valuable input, Cavazos says. Early conversations with a millworker were particularly valuable, as designers sought to maintain the building’s aesthetic. An LPA MEP engineer helped analyze the existing above-ceiling mechanical and electrical systems. “From that analysis we were able to keep a lot of the original mechanical ductwork and fan coil units, which saved money to spend on other things,” Cavazos says.
The refresh started with opening a brick wall that lined the space, bringing in natural light and allowing passersby to see activities. The space was developed around flexibility, reflecting the need to host everything from Thanksgiving dinners to one-on-one meetings. Flags of the world and a large Peters map of the globe, showing the true land mass of each continent, help give the space a distinct international ambiance. Colors and materials create ties to the original Stern design.
“We took a holistic approach, ensuring the project reads as one building and delivers a seamless experience,” Gutierrez says.
The CIE “storefront” lines one side of the space, but barriers between students and the people who can answer their questions were purposely removed. Rooms are designed for multiple uses and to make it easy for students to find the information they need.
Both designs emphasized transparency in the administrative spaces, creating more connections between students and staff.
New Hives of Activity
The new spaces are already affecting daily student life. At the Witt Center, the reception area around the fireplace is now a popular spot for games and meetings. Upgraded classroom and meeting spaces are in demand, and the Trinity marketing department reports improved workflow and better collaboration, Meischen says.
“The results exceeded expectations,” Meischen says. “The spaces feel brighter, more functional and more aligned with the needs of both students and staff.”
The CIE has a new home, a base that reflects its mission and serves students more efficiently. Common spaces have been used for awards ceremonies, mixers and classes. During soccer season, the CIE hosts viewing events for Champions League matches.
“It’s becoming a hangout spot,” Nishikawa says.
All the spaces implement the values developed in the campus master plan, encouraging collaboration and interactions between administrators and students. Programs are on display, and the spaces are part of student life. Meischen say he has been surprised by the value added by many small decisions — improved lighting, reconfigured layouts, updated finishes and the integration of modern technology.
“Across all the areas, the spaces are being used more frequently and more intentionally than before,” Meischen says. “The renovations brought new life into areas that were previously overlooked or underperforming.”
