TRU – Old Main classrooms to get a makeover for September

Students returning to classes at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in September will find parts of Old Main made new. More than half of the classrooms on the second floor will have undergone a complete modernization over the summer as a result of a broader $5 million revitalization project for the building’s first and second floors.

“Old Main represents our first building and the heart of our campus. It’s where our former Cariboo College took up permanent residence more than four decades ago, and is a strong part of what we are today,” said Alan Shaver, TRU’s president and vice-chancellor, noting the building still accommodates nearly half of all classroom space on campus.

Students will see a significant change in classrooms when work is complete, not only with new flooring and paint, but with how the rooms themselves are configured.

“Most of the classrooms are laid out in a traditional fashion with parallel rows of tables facing the teaching space. Learning and teaching delivery styles have changed, and our redesigned classrooms will reflect this,” said Christine Bovis-Cnossen, TRU’s provost and vice-president academic.

Rather than rows of tables, classrooms may have various seating arrangements to encourage collaborative and active learning, as well as student engagement.