Education is the key to success

It is with great excitement that we can announce that the Trinity College Board recently approved the designs for the Southern Gateway building, which is the latest addition to the College campus.

Trinity’s aim is to build upon our leading position in the education marketplace. To achieve this, we need better facilities for classes and tutorials, for music and theatre productions and rehearsals.

‘Australia is a world leader in the field of education, and the education of international students is one of our biggest industries’, said Jim Craig, Chairman of the College Board.

Trinity College Warden, Professor Andrew McGowan agrees. ‘Trinity currently holds a premier position in this landscape and, while this is not under threat, our intention is to ensure that this continues far into the future. If Trinity is to continue to excel, we need to expand our facilities and consolidate the campus into a more effective whole.’

The new building, plans for which are currently with the Melbourne City Council for approval, will be located on the southwest corner of College and will link with the Burge Building forming a cohesive educational precinct. This adaptable space will encompass not only classroom and tutorial rooms, but also a beautiful art gallery and studio, music and drama rooms and a 300-seat auditorium.

Director of Advancement, Scott Charles is excited about the broad appeal of the new precinct. ‘The Southern Gateway will be a flexible space that can be used by all divisions of the College at any time,’ he enthused. ‘It will provide teaching spaces for a wide range of studies including Communication and Performance, and will provide an informal meeting place for all students within the café and terrace areas.’

The College’s traditional ties to the University will be further enhanced through a cloister that will link the Bulpadok with Tin Alley.

Professor McGowan says ‘Trinity College has enjoyed generous philanthropic support since 1872 and this has allowed the College to reach its present pre-eminent position. We are hopeful that the current College community will continue this support and assist us in this visionary investment in education.’

Building is expected to commence in early 2015 and it’s anticipated that the facility will be ready to use in the 2016 academic year.