Trinity’s ongoing commercialisation strategy to improve visitor access will see the removal of the attendant’s kiosk and the installation of new visual technologies in the Nassau St entrance of College. The construction is part of the Trinity Visitor Experience programme, intended to improve visitors’ and students’ experience of the college.
The programme will also see changes to the signage used by College, as well as improved visitor information facilities, and includes the refurbishment of Regent House and West Gate entrance, into a visitor centre for the summer months. The College decided to institute the new programme of visitor facilities, which will include improvements to the main entrances where visitors arrive at the College.
The Nassau Street entrance has seen over 35 years of intense use, since the Arts Block’s completion in 1979. The refurbishment of the area will include renewal of many of the original elements of the building’s walls and floors, which have become dirty, worn and abused over the years.
Adrian Neilan, Commercial Director of the College, in an email statement to The University Timesstated: “The upgrade to the entrances in question will ensure a far more attractive and appealing entrance to Trinity for all Trinity Stakeholders.”
Neilan went on to say that the refurbishments “will equip the visitor with updated knowledge on the full list of ongoing activities in Trinity during their visit”.
The works will include the removal of the attendants’ glazed kiosk which no longer serves the original intention, and obscures the view and route between Fellows Square and the Nassau Street gate. This space will then be occupied by a small seating area.
Other improvements to the area are intended to change the atmosphere of the concourse, with a new honed concrete floor and an area of timber end-grain flooring – similar to the plans for the West Gate floor at Regent House – and the installation of LED light fittings within the ceiling to create better lighting.
In addition to this plan, Neilan hoped to “see the adoption of more technological solutions, which will ensure significantly more engagement with the all visitors”.
One of the more noticeable additions will be a large freestanding monolith, welcoming visitors to Trinity, erected at the Nassau Street footpath. A large active information screen will provide clear signage as well as graphic art and other displays. Ticket machines for visitor collection and new notice boards with also be installed as part of the refurbishment, in the hopes that the concourse can become an informative space, providing knowledge on the contents of the building, as well as Trinity at large.
Neilan, in May, stated to The University Times that: “Trinity has significant untapped potential in terms of rooms, space and brand to allow a lot of positive financial contribution to be made. As we try to free up space and improve and upgrade rooms to secure more commercial returns, then in the long term students and staff will benefit from this.”
Last year saw nine student ambassadors work from June-September to promote the campus’s various attractions and facilities.
