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200 Constitution Plaza Planning Process

May 13, 2015

Dear Members of the Trinity Community,

I write to update you on the Constitution Plaza planning process.  As many of you know from touring the building during our recent open house, we have acquired a large and valuable piece of property.  In the months ahead we have many important decisions to make.

As I noted in my February 19, 2015 message to the community, we hired two experienced consultants to help initiate an inclusive dialogue about how we might use this prime real estate in the heart of downtown Hartford.  As part of their work, the consultants conducted forums with trustees, faculty/staff, and students.  More than 100 of you participated.  The report they prepared following these public events highlights the many ideas shared during these open meetings, along with their own evaluation of the space.  The report is now available via this link:

http://commons.trincoll.edu/comment/200-constitution-plaza/

As you will see, the report includes some innovative ideas about how we might use 200 Constitution Plaza.  I am now assembling a Constitution Plaza Planning Committee that includes faculty, staff, students, trustees, and city representatives. The committee will be co-chaired by Vice President for Finance and Operations Paul Mutone and Chief of Staff Jason Rojas, ably supported by Associate Professor of Political Science Stefanie Chambers, and the full committee will be charged with creating a plan that will benefit Trinity both educationally and financially.   A request for proposals has also been issued to hire a leasing agent to help us identify tenants for the building.  We are dedicated to maintaining an open discussion about the planning process and intend to have more opportunities for your feedback in the months ahead.  Tentatively, we are moving toward a fall 2016 or spring 2017 occupancy.

I will provide updates on the work of the Constitution Plaza Planning Committee as it proceeds.  In the meantime, if you have questions or ideas you would like to share, please direct your communication to Stefanie Chambers ([email protected]) or Jason Rojas ([email protected]), the liaisons on the Constitution Plaza project.

Sincerely,
Joanne Berger-Sweeney
President and Trinity College
Professor of Neuroscience

P.S. My original letter on the planning process can be found here:
http://www.trincoll.edu/AboutTrinity/offices/president/CommunityLetters/Pages/ConstitutionPlazaUpdate.aspx