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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Challenge the Way You Think

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.

Peterborough

1600 West Bank Drive
Peterborough, ON Canada, K9L 0G2

Toll Free: 1-855-MY-TRENT

Campus Map

Durham Greater Toronto Area

55 Thornton Road South
Oshawa, ON Canada, L1J 5Y1

Phone: 905-435-5100

Campus Map

Social Media Directory