Trinidad State College has been recognized by the American Library Association (ALA)
with a prestigious honor for its newly renovated library. The Samuel Freudenthal Memorial Library was among 15 libraries across North America chosen for the 2025 Library Design Showcase,
the ALA’s annual celebration of the most impressive new and renovated libraries.
The Freudenthal Library at Trinidad State College, built in 1967, was reopened in spring 2025 as a vibrant centerpiece of campus life. As the first major construction project on the Trinidad campus in more than 50 years, the re-opening coincided with the college’s 100th anniversary celebration. Dr. Rhonda Epper, TSC president, noted, “We are thrilled with this honor and with the outcome of our library renovation. Our architect and design team envisioned the new library as much more than a collection of books. It is a place for creativity, for shaping ideas, as well as for study and collaboration. When you walk into this library, you will immediately feel a sense of inspiration, history, and community.”
As with most mid-20th-century academic libraries, the Freudenthal was introverted and underutilized. It has now been reinvented architecturally to present as a welcoming destination for students, faculty, and the broader community. Denver-based studiotrope Design Collective (sDC) served as the project architect. Strategic design changes include the addition of a glowing “crystal box” that redefines the entrance and creates a luminous threshold into the space. By day, the library is open and inviting; by night, it shines as a beacon across campus, drawing people in and signaling that the heart of campus is alive and thriving.
The library now houses a variety of study environments including open, collaborative areas, closed meeting rooms, a student lounge with a fireplace featuring a dramatic original mosaic, an outdoor courtyard with a fire pit and striking views of Fishers Peak, a study hall for "heads down" focused activity, a series of classrooms, and a new community makerspace. The lower level of the library was also renovated into the updated Louden-Henritze Archaeology Museum, set to re-open later this year.
Design Showcase details:
- PROJECT TYPE: Renovation
- ARCHITECT: studiotrope Design Collective (sDC)
- SIZE: 32,473 square feet
- COST: $9.5 million
- For more information, visit: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2025/09/02/2025-library-design-showcase/
