The architectural design work was undertaken by Kate Hearle, one of the first female students at the College, who learnt to row at Trinity Hall and went on to compete in the Olympic Games in Seoul and Barcelona.
The improvements have included renovations to the façade of the boathouse which was over a century old, a new workshop and internal reorganization to create improved changing facilities, new ergometer rooms and gym facilities.
Work began on the boathouse on 27th May 2014 and Phase 1 and 2 were completed in time for this year’s May Bumps.
Phase 3 includes plans for a two-storey extension to the west which would house a four-seater rowing tank and training room to enable crews to train regardless of weather and time of day.
Trinity Hall wishes to provide its Boat Club with a modern facility to encourage participation in rowing and to improve the training environment for the crews.
Kate Hearle of Tigerhill Architects said: “I am determined that THBC shall continue to introduce people to rowing, encourage them and support their achievements at whatever level that may be. I am grateful for the tireless support offered to me by the Club when I was a student and the huge enjoyment I have had, and still get, from the sport. I am pleased to have been able to redesign the boathouse to provide more modern facilities.”
Kate read architecture at Trinity Hall and went on to win a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games in 1994.
The refurbishment work has been made possible partly through donations from former members of the Boat Club. Over £750,000 was raised.
Current students also undertook a 25hr ergothon in October last year to raise funds for the boathouse and national charity Cardiac Risk in the Young.
The Latham-Scott boathouse was designed by an alumnus, Montague Wheeler, who studied at the College in the 1890s.
Proposals for the boathouse were first discussed in 1885, but building work did not commence until 1902.
It was made possible through the legacy of former Master, Henry Latham.
Further updates to the facilities occurred in the 1970s through the legacy of alumnus Michael Nightingale and the College is grateful to alumnus Dr Walter Scott whose generosity made these latest refurbishments possible. Walter Scott will be opening the boathouse on 13th June.
Trinity Hall Boat Club is one of the oldest College boatclubs and is historically one of the most successful Cambridge Colleges at Henley Royal Regatta.
The Trinity Hall boathouse will be officially reopened on 13th June after extensive refurbishment.
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