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When working on any historical project, the Nunn team is always curious about the previous generations of users that the building cared for, housed, or educated. When working at Trinidad State College (TSC), our team was able to be more than curious, they found evidence of previous students and got a glimpse into the history of the buildings we worked in while preparing them for future generations to experience and leave their mark.
Nunn Construction has been working hard on two renovation projects at Trinidad State College’s campus in Trinidad, Colorado – the Freudenthal Library and Romero Residence Hall. These two historical buildings are marque staples for students at TSC during their collegiate careers at TSC. Bringing these buildings up to date without losing their timeless feel has been a priority that the Nunn team tackled as they raced against students’ return to campus for the 2024-25 school semester.
Trinidad State College History
Becoming Colorado’s first community college when founded, TSC shared their campus and faculty with Trinidad High School as there were 37 college students enrolled at the time. In 1968, TSC was accepted into the Colorado Community College System. Now approaching its centennial year, TSC boasts a lively campus with around 1,800 students on a 17- acre campus with 15 buildings, two satellite buildings in Alamosa, and a few other off-campus training sites. (History of Trinidad State.” Trinidad State College)
Updates to the Freudenthal Library
Our work on Trinidad State College’s campus started with construction on Freudenthal Library in June of 2023, as a multi-phased project featuring new restrooms, structural demolition, and a completely reworked library entrance to update it with modern features. This project encompassed a full interior and partial exterior renovation. Built in 1967, Freudenthal Library is a namesake for state Senator Sam Freudenthal who presided over Colorado District 4. The library was named after him because he sponsored a bill in 1925 that helped to establish Trinidad State College. Freudenthal Library is also home to the Louden-Henritze Archaeology Museum which hosts a Mosasaurus fossil, various books and artifacts, and a possible haunting. The Nunn team apparently has had several “experiences”, and the recurrences of these experiences were markedly reduced when artifacts were removed for construction purposes. But never to be deterred from getting the job done, our team persevered!
Dr. Rhonda Epper, President of Trinidad State College, remarked on the renovations of Freudenthal Library.
“The Freudenthal Library renovation is a transformative project for our campus. I’m most excited about the new two-story entryway, the grand study hall, the welcoming gallery lounge, the learning commons, the business innovation hub, makerspace, and courtyard.
The updated classrooms and office spaces will add a lot to the student experience and staff comfort. And the all-new Louden-Henritze Archaeology Museum will be a draw for the entire region of Southern Colorado. We can’t wait to open this incredible new resource to our community.”
A Refresh for the 1960’s Romero Residence Hall
Along with the updates to the Freudenthal Library and Museum, Nunn began renovations to the Romero Residence Hall in January of 2024. Built in 1960, Romero Residence Hall is a two-story, 15,165 square feet dormitory that houses 32 bedrooms. When demolishing bookshelves in dorm bedrooms, the team made an interesting discovery. Trapped between the bookshelves and the walls were pictures, letters, and other documents. Amongst these items found, Brad Rusk, Nunn Construction’s Superintendent on Romero, said the most interesting one to him was a football schedule for the TSC Trojans’ 1960 season as well as a basketball schedule for the 1970 season. These lost items provided the team with a glimpse of collegiate life at Trinidad State throughout the years.
1970’s Basketball Schedule & Trojan Football Schedule from 1960.
“If only these walls could talk”
Once asbestos mitigation was completed at Romero, the Nunn team installed light fixtures, new glazing, and flooring. Additionally, they performed a complete renovation of the existing restrooms and showers to ensure ADA compliance. Wrapping all these improvements up, Romero’s exterior got a structural shade louver eyebrow systems, providing shade for dorm windows and a slight cooling effect. When reflecting this project, Brad states that “a feeling comes over me of ‘If only these walls could talk’”.
If only indeed! Getting the opportunity to improve these two buildings meant that while the Nunn team sought to bring these buildings into the future, they were treated with an unexpected trip down memory lane. But the Nunn team was not the only ones impressed by these incredible projects. Students were excited to move into this refreshed dormitory and it was heavily requested by incoming students, and completely full for its first semester. Rusk noted that it was especially satisfying to see the line of cars and students moving their belongings into the dorm after working so hard to get it ready in time. “Seeing Romero Hall come to life again and packed with students and all their belongings made me so proud to make it a great new space for them and also wonder what will be tucked away for the next generation of us contractors to find a few decades from now!”
As Geoff Graham with NV5, the Owner’s Representative on these projects, reflected and had this to say…
“It will be exciting to see students utilizing the new space to its fullest, whether that be for studying, collaborating, or instruction. The Project Team has done an outstanding job creating a space that is not only functional and flexible, but inviting and comfortable as well. I have no doubt this remodel will serve the College for many years to come.”
We wish Trinidad State College a happy Centennial year and are grateful to be part of their history and story. Go Trojans!
