Our Campus

Located on a wooded rise above an Indiana limestone quarry, our campus is within walking distance of the main DePauw University campus, situated within the 500-acre DePauw Nature Park. The Institute includes multiple flexible spaces for reflection, meeting, and collaboration, a library, two kitchens, and a stunning auditorium for large-format events. The Institute also houses office and meeting space for its full-time staff and visiting scholars. The Bartlett Reflection Center, connected by a series of streams and waterfalls to the Prindle Institute, is a complementary space managed by DePauw’s Center for Spiritual Life, and is designed for meditation and contemplation. All public spaces are arranged with connections to communal outdoor rooms and vistas to the Nature Park.

Our campus’s award-winning design was product of a collaboration by Lake/Flato and CSO—both nationwide leaders in green architecture. In May 2008, the Prindle Institute became Indiana’s first Gold-rated building certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Our LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified facilities minimize impact on the surrounding Nature Park and feature a configuration around a landscaped courtyard that decreases energy use. Locally-quarried limestone and regionally-harvested woods provide color and texture that meet the rigorous standards of the U.S. Green Building Council. The Prindle Institute is a winner of the AIA Indiana Design Award and the AIA San Antonio Design Award.

The Prindle Institute for Ethics is a place to see, learn, and get inspired. Nestled within the DePauw Nature Park, the Institute’s Usonian-inspired architecture—marked by clean lines, natural materials, and harmony with the surrounding landscape—creates an environment designed for reflection, discovery, and dialogue. Visitors can explore thought-provoking works by local and regional artists, view student projects that blend creativity with ethical inquiry, and experience interactive exhibits that spark conversation about how we live and what we value.

The Institute also features multiple community meeting and collaboration spaces, including a Classroom that seats 20 with flexible arrangements, two Conference Rooms that seat 20 in a board-style configuration, a configurable Great Room that seats up to 100, and the Prindle Auditorium, which seats up to 115. The Wood Library, named in memory of Steven Wood, is housed in the western wing of the Institute and includes thousands of volumes on ethics, relevant disciplinary publications, and a growing library of children’s literature as part of the Teaching Children Philosophy program.

The building is equipped with a full catering kitchen, functional interior and exterior fireplaces, and multiple outdoor areas for community use. All classrooms and conference rooms are fully equipped for audio-visual needs, and video conferencing setups for hybrid meetings and events are available.

During regular-term operations (while classes are in session), the Prindle Institute is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. During weekends and recess periods, the Institute may be accessed by DePauw affiliates via ID swipe. The Institute is closed during all University holidays. Unless previously reserved, the Institute’s spaces are open to students, faculty, staff, and community members for studying, reading, reflection, and discussion. The Wood Library is a quiet area reserved exclusively for study. Public parking is freely available, and access gates to the campus from the parking area are open during business hours every day.

Campus Map →     What’s On View →

The DePauw Nature Park where our campus is located is a 520-acre outdoor classroom, quiet retreat, and adventure hub, all in one. Built on the site of a former limestone quarry, the park is now home to over eight miles of scenic trails, dramatic cliffside views, rich forests, and diverse wildlife. Whether you’re hiking the Rim Trail, exploring creek beds, or reflecting on your relationship with the natural environment, the Nature Park invites you to slow down and look closer. Open every day, the park is a destination for school groups, researchers, artists, and anyone seeking inspiration in nature. In addition to the Prindle Institute, the Nature Park is also home to to the Bartlett Reflection Center, the Manning Environmental Field Station, and an outdoor amphitheater—making it a one-of-a-kind blend of natural beauty and academic life. Whether you come to study, think, or just breathe, there’s no end to your discovery here.

Nature Park Guide →     Nature Park Flyover View →

We’re proud to share the Prindle Institute’s beautiful and inspiring spaces with the DePauw community for events that spark conversation, reflection, and ethical engagement. The Prindle Auditorium and classroom spaces are available for meetings, retreats, lectures, and discussions that align with the Institute’s mission to deepen understanding of the ethical dimensions of life. We ask that all events respect the character of the Institute and the tranquility of our setting. To help us prepare for your visit, please submit reservation requests at least 30 days in advance; requests made fewer than 7 days before an event cannot be accommodated. Final decisions on building use are made at the Institute’s discretion.

Priority Considerations for Event Requests:

1. 1. Activities sponsored by the Institute and ethics-related activities sponsored by Faculty Development.
   2.  Other ethics-related activities sponsored by student, faculty, and staff groups at DePauw.
   3. General lectures or retreats, meetings, or small-group discussions sponsored by student, faculty and/or staff groups, subject to availability constraints.

Event FAQs →     Reservation Request →