Cathy Terrace: Calling for A More Accessible Campus Design

By Nick Smetzer

Trinity’s brick-red campus, though may be easy on the eyes, is not very easy on the legs.

Few know this as well as senior anthropology major Cathy Terrace, who, for the last year, has been conducting research on the history of Trinity’s architecture, as well as issues of accessibility.

Terrace’s research, which is her senior thesis, stems largely from a personal struggle that she has had while attending Trinity. “I remember coming to Trinity and being frustrated with the lack of shortcuts on campus,” says Terrace, who has a physical disability. “I navigate the campus profoundly differently than other students do. Since I came to Trinity, I’ve always been frustrated with how inaccessible it’s seemed.”

Her research has taken her from the history of O’Neil Ford, the architect who designed Trinity’s campus, to the blueprints of the buildings themselves, and to the office of Trinity’s Student Accessibility Services. “O’Neil Ford wanted to build a campus around this sort of ‘liberal arts’ vision,” says Terrace. “He really stressed the natural landscape, and incorporating natural elements into his architecture.”

For Terrace, nothing epitomizes Ford’s vision quite like the George Storch Memorial Building, which happens to house the Department of Anthropology. “In many ways, Storch is not a building that’s built on the terrain, but rather, it comes out of it,” she says.

However, the building is not quite accessible. “Individuals with mobility impairments who can’t take stairs are fundamentally denied this perspective on Ford’s design philosophy, and I think in many ways the building suffers as a result of that,” says Terrace.

Acknowledging the grand ideas behind some of Trinity’s buildings, Terrace also tries to shed light on some shortcomings in the designs that other students may not be aware of.

The Elizabeth Huth Coates Library, for instance, has only one main entrance way, and thus promises a long trek for anybody who wishes to enter it. For the disabled, this can pose a serious obstacle to accessing the resources located in the library.

While critical of many aspects of the campus’ design, Terrace’s research does not deny Trinity’s unique architectural aesthetic. Terrace appreciates that certain aspects of the campus “are undoubtedly beautiful.” At the same time, she wants to bring attention to “this kind of aesthetic-first architecture, rather than accommodation-first.”

"Her work really asks us to rethink the concept of disability," says anthropology professor Richard Reed. "She's looking at architecture and saying 'the way that we've built Trinity, it's really forced some people to be disabled by things like steps.'"

With her senior thesis, Terrace intends to "give credibility to not only my concerns about accessibility on Trinity’s campus, but other student’s concerns as well.” She will present her thesis to faculty and staff at the end of the semester, and feels optimistic that her research will contribute to the project of making Trinity’s campus one where everyone feels they truly belong.