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 features multiple community meeting and collaboration spaces, including a Classroom which seats 20 with variable arrangements, two Conference Rooms which seat 20 in a board-style configuration, a configurable Great Room which 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 Prindle Institute. Its collection includes thousands of volumes on ethics, relevant disciplinary publications, and a growing library of children’s literature as part of our Teaching Children Philosophy program. The building is also equipped with a full catering kitchen, functional interior/exterior fireplaces, and multiple outdoor areas for community use. All class 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-Friday from 8AM to 5PM. 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 (see below for booking information), 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.

Floor Plan →

All events in the space are expected to remain compatible with the character and mission of the Prindle Institute for Ethics. Events may not create any hazard or impose any undue hardship on the Prindle Institute facilities, staff, or visitors. Events must conform to established regulations. Final decisions about building use rest solely at the discretion of the Prindle Institute. The Prindle Auditorium and class/conference rooms are available to all members of the DePauw community for meetings and events. We welcome all ethics-related programming including retreats, lectures, presentations and small group discussions. Please plan to schedule your event at the Prindle Institute at least 30 days prior to its start, and note that requests will not be accepted less than 7 days prior to the event date.

Prioritization for Event Bookings:

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.

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