Alumnae Hall Renaissance: A Campus Center for Trinity’s Future

A Modern Campus Center for the 21st Century

Trinity has undertaken the renovation of Alumnae Hall, creating a comfortable, modern campus center for current and future generations of Trinity students. This $55 million project will significantly impact campus life, providing a new dining experience, modern lounges and improved student residential rooms. The project includes new systems for heating and air conditioning, greater accessibility including an entrance ramp, new elevators and refurbishment of the building’s beautiful historic aesthetics. With this modernization, Alumnae Hall will become a thriving hub for campus activities as students and faculty traverse from the nearby Payden Academic Center to eat, study, meet up and enjoy events and entertainment.

Preserving and Transforming a Historic Treasure

When Alumnae Hall opened in 1929, it was the height of elegant living for college women in that era. From the stately limestone façade to the soaring marble columns in the atrium opening to two impressive wood-paneled dining halls, the building clearly announced Trinity’s place as one of the leading colleges for women in the 20th Century.
Nearly 100 years later, Alumnae Hall remains absolutely central to student life on Trinity’s campus, but the historic building now needs extensive renovation to meet the evolving demands of 21st Century dining and residence.

Modernizing Alumnae Hall will cost close to $52,000,000 for all project costs and contingencies. Generous benefactors have already contributed more than $40,000,000; Trinity aims to raise an additional $12,000,000 so that the project will be fully funded through charitable gifts.

Trinity’s outstanding partners for this project include:

• Clark Construction – Design/Build Lead Partner
• Page Architects – Design Services
• Brailsford & Dunlavey – Project Management

All-New Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Systems
A primary goal of this project is to provide modern heating and air conditioning in Alumnae Hall. The HVAC design includes multiple systems tailored to the size and functionality of the spaces. The electrical system will have a full upgrade. Most interior plumbing will be replaced, and abatement will take place throughout as pipes and other fixtures are replaced.

Fire and Life Safety
Another goal is to ensure the safety of the building, including installation of a sprinkler system and modern fire alarms. Access to the building and interior doors in the residential areas will occur through a modern access control system.

Sustainability
This project must satisfy LEED certification requirements and Trinity’s goal is at least LEED silver. New climate control systems and replacement of all windows will support this goal.

Accessibility
Alumnae Hall will be fully accessible, and this includes creation of a stone ramp and automatic door opener at the front entrance, modern elevators with full accessibility, and accessible restrooms on each floor.

Aesthetics and Comfort
Modernizing Alumnae Hall means new systems, but the historic beauty of the building remains. The design process is attentive to the historic aesthetic of the atrium and dining halls; lighting and furniture will be appropriate for the space. In the basement, the original student lounge will be restored in full, with comfortable furnishings for study and gatherings, and the outdoor patio will be refurbished for an attractive outdoor dining and study option.

Temporary Relocation of Dining Services
In order to renovate Alumnae Hall, the kitchen, servery and dining halls need to vacate their existing space. The first floor of Cuvilly Hall, a residence hall, is undergoing renovation for the temporary kitchen and dining area that will be known as the “Cuvilly Café,” pictured above in an artist’s rendering.

Supporting Alumnae Hall is more than a capital investment. It is an investment in the lives and aspirations of Trinity’s students—future educators, nurses, advocates, innovators, and leaders. With your contribution, Trinity will continue to open doors, expand opportunities, and empower students to shape a more just and vibrant world. Your support will ensure that Trinity’s students have the high-quality spaces and resources they need to thrive.

We invite you to participate in The Campaign for Alumnae Hall and help us to shape the future of an historic institution with an essential mission. Whether your gift celebrates your

Trinity experience, honors an alumna, or recognizes Trinity’s powerful role in the community, each donor becomes part of a legacy that will endure for generations.
Commemorative, Memorial and Named Gift Opportunities are available. Please contact Patrick D. Kellogg, Vice President for Development and Alumnae Relations, at kelloggp@trinitydc.edu or 202-884-9721 to learn more about gift opportunities and ways to donate to the Campaign