The Dorothy A. and James W. Laurie Auditorium is a beautiful venue that plays an important role in both campus and community life. It was constructed in 1971 and named in honor of Trinity’s 13th president, James W. Laurie, and Mrs. Laurie.
The amphitheatre design and wide stage allow for excellent views throughout the hall. In addition to its design, the auditorium is the largest on-campus facility, seating an audience of 2,700.
Laurie Auditorium was built in 1970-71.
In its early years, the Student Advisory Board sponsored various rock concerts in Laurie Auditorium that drew capacity crowds from both campus and community. Since then, Laurie Auditorium has housed some of Trinity’s most cherished memories. It has been the site of commencements, convocations, cultural events, and concerts. Laurie Auditorium also frequently hosts San Antonio Symphony Young People's Concerts, Children's Fine Arts Series, jazz concerts, and Trinity in Focus programs. Artists like Jay Leno, Patti LaBelle, B.B. King, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Duran Duran, and "Stomp" have all performed in recent years. Many of these events are free and open to the public, such as the annual Christmas concert, where visitors are serenaded to seasonal festive music.
Laurie Auditorium is home to Trinity and community events, such as commencements, speaker series, and concerts.
More recently, Laurie Auditorium has drawn immense attention for its popular lecture series that bring notable personalities across various fields to Trinity’s campus. These figures have included a remarkable variety of former heads of state, journalists, writers, poets, and numerous Nobel Laureates. Laurie was filled to the brim with visitors excited to see the 2015 DeCoursey Lecturer and renowned conservationist Jane Goodall, as well as the 2016 Distinguished Speaker Scott Kelly, a NASA astronaut who spent a year in space. After all these years, it’s great to see that Laurie’s still selling out!
Every time a big person comes to campus—or a small person for that matter—I always tell students that this is the only time in their lives that they can see interesting people for free." - 2017 Trinitonian, David Crockett, chair of the political science department.
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