Trinity Collegiate planning $4.4 million expansion
From Staff Reports
Trinity Collegiate School, a private school in Darlington County, has announced plans for a $4.4 million expansion of its campus and plans to break ground this spring. “Facility expansion is a major component of the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan and is critical to the school’s continued growth and success of the school,” said Head of School Ed Hoffman. Trinity’s plans include an international student dormitory, an auxiliary gymnasium and an academic classroom building. The first phase of the expansion, the school says, will be the international dormitory, with a projected cost of $1.2 million. The building will house 32 students in an 8,560-square-foot facility. The dormitory will feature two wings off a common area with eight student dorm rooms in each wing (two students per room), with girls on one side and boys on the other. Each wing, the school says, will also provide a resident area for faculty house supervisors. An outdoor patio, a common area and kitchen are also planned. “The dorm, by far, is going to be the most exciting part of the project,” said Hoffman. Since coming to Trinity Collegiate in 2011, Hoffman has traveled overseas building relationships to advance the International Program. The school reports that it currently enrolls 21 international students from China, Korea, Vietnam, France, Lithuania, Turkey, Ireland and Canada. Trinity has also hosted students from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Germany and Italy in past years. The school’s enrollment is 353, the highest in the school’s 25-year history. The school has been ranked one of the best schools in the region and state. April Munn, director of admissions, said: “Trinity Collegiate is a unique regional independent school that attracts students from throughout the Pee Dee region and internationally. Over 10 percent of our students are from outside of Florence, Darlington and Hartsville and 58 percent of our high school students were previously enrolled in public school.” In addition to the international dormitory, Trinity’s expansion project includes a 22,000-square-foot “auxiliary gymnasium” and a classroom building. The proposed timeline has the dormitory operational within six months of ground-breaking.
Architect’s drawing & floor plan of proposed expansion. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
