Fox Cities News

A ceremonial groundbreaking took place on Thursday for a new building in the 300 block of E. College Avenue, signifying a significant partnership aimed at supporting innovative academic spaces for Lawrence University and providing a new home for the Trout Museum of Art (TMA). This collaboration is expected to create opportunities for career and community engagement.

Leaders from Lawrence University, TMA, and the City of Appleton addressed over 200 attendees at the site where the four-story building will be constructed over the next 18 months. They highlighted how this project would benefit the university, the nonprofit art museum, downtown Appleton, and the broader Fox Valley region.

Lawrence University President Laurie A. Carter stated that when completed in fall 2025, "this building will provide our faculty and students with innovative academic spaces that will enhance teaching and learning in the humanities, the arts, mathematics, computer science, and data science." She added that it would offer new opportunities for student engagement with community partners through internships and collaborations.

The building will encompass more than 100,000 square feet across four floors. The ground floor will house a state-of-the-art Trout Museum of Art, while Lawrence's academic spaces will occupy the second floor. Market-rate apartments are planned for the upper two floors. Located at College Avenue and Drew Street's southwest intersection on Lawrence's campus edge, this $38 million project is a joint venture between Lawrence University and TMA with construction by Boldt.

This marks Lawrence University's first new building since Warch Campus Center opened in 2009. It aims to expand programming based on its world-class academics by adding over 30,000 square feet of academic space.

"We are continually seeking opportunities to build on the academic tradition that for 177 years has made Lawrence one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the nation," said Carter. An anonymous $10 million gift from an alum kickstarted fundraising efforts for this project.

The second floor’s academic planning involves soundproof offices and studios for Conservatory faculty alongside offices for Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Department staff. Additionally, it includes an innovative teaching commons facilitating both formal education and experiential learning across disciplines.

Susan Hall ’76 represented Lawrence’s Board of Trustees at this event. She emphasized that "the trustees believe this is much more than a building—it’s a critical piece of our university’s future."

For TMA—soon-to-be located within these premises—the modern amenities aim to showcase artwork while functioning as dynamic community spaces emphasizing art education/engagement opportunities alongside potential collaborations involving visual arts/nonprofits/education/entrepreneurship initiatives involving students from both institutions.

Christina Turner—TMA Executive Director—described their partnership with Lawrence as an opportunity elevating community collaborations further: “blending academic rigor...with boundless creativity.” Once operationalized come late-2025 visitors should experience transformative power stemming from such artistic endeavors she noted; "the museum will serve as vibrant hub...where artists thrive...ideas flourish…and new forms born."

Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford hailed this collaborative effort saying it was “an exciting day” while expressing gratitude towards all parties involved—including leaders like John Bergstrom/Sandra Trout/Curt Detjen—for realizing such visions/plans enhancing local cultural landscape vibrancy via architecture designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners partnered w/Boldt Construction Company; showcasing simplicity fused between downtown/Lawrence campus boundaries through stacked rectangular volumes promising elevated cityscape aesthetics ultimately deepening investment commitment toward downtown Appleton according Carter who concluded remarks affirming entwined histories continue writing another chapter therein fostering ongoing connections amongst constituents alike.