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Trent University

Heritage Stewardship

  • Welcome
  • The Architectural Vision
  • Ron Thom
  • Furniture
  • Revitalization Projects
  • Heritage Policy
Overhead shot of Bata library and the forests surrounding Trent

Heritage Stewardship

  • Welcome
  • The Architectural Vision
    • Adamson Power Station
    • Alumni House
    • Athletic Centre
    • Bata Library
    • Champlain College
    • Chemical Science Building
    • DNA Building
    • Environmental Science Building
    • Lady Eaton College
    • Master Planner
    • Otonabee College
    • Peter Gzowski College
    • Science Complex
    • The Faryon Bridge
  • Ron Thom
  • Furniture
  • Revitalization Projects
  • Heritage Policy
TRENTU.CA / Heritage Stewardship / The Architectural Vision / Bata Library

Bata Library

Construction of the Bata Library began in 1967 and it was officially opened and dedicated by Thomas J. Bata in October, 1969. This beautiful building is the centrepiece of the university campus and reflects in large measure the vision and philosophy of its architect, Ron Thom (1923-1986). While the campus was to be decentralized and comprised of a number of discrete colleges, the library was situated so as to form the focal point, the intellectual heart of the university. Members of the architect's planning team visited libraries at Brandeis, Yale, Harvard and M.I.T. before designing this beautiful Modernist building. The walls of Bata are exposed-aggregate rubble and concrete which Thom saw as matching closely the stone outcroppings of the area. Trent University Archives holds non-current records of the University and also functions as a regional archive preserving private historical records of Peterborough County and the surrounding area. Holdings comprise over 1,100 metres of textual records – family, business, association and institutional papers – as well as 38,000 photographs, maps and other graphic items. In addition, a number of special collections of published materials have been acquired which focus on rare Canadiana.

A visual artist's rendering of the future Bata library with focus on the main floor and it's study area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital rendering of the new Bata library showing the breathing wall and students sitting in a lounge area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interior view of the Bata library central  lobby looking up and showing the glass cieling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital rendering of the Bata library where students are sitting around the central stair case in study area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black and white photo of the original Bata library being constructed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside image of Bata library in the fall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Architectural Vision

  • Adamson Power Station
  • Alumni House
  • Athletic Centre
  • Bata Library
  • Champlain College
  • Chemical Science Building
  • DNA Building
  • Environmental Science Building
  • Lady Eaton College
  • Master Planner
  • Otonabee College
  • Peter Gzowski College
  • Science Complex
  • The Faryon Bridge
  • Support Heritage - Donate Now

Additional Resources

  • Ron Thom: Trent University’s Walking Tour
  • Media and Awards
  • Student Project: Ron Thom's Original Collection
  • Trent University Art Collection
  • Trent University Visual Archive
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Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

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