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Our Building

Indiana's gold-certified LEED building

Dedicated in 2007, the Prindle Institute for Ethics is nestled in the heart of DePauw’s Nature Park near the main DePauw campus. The innovative, sustainable design provides a space for students, faculty, and other members of our community to get away from their busy lives and reflect or work in peace. The Bartlett Reflection Center, connected by a series of streams and waterfalls to the Prindle Institute, is a complementary space conducive to meditation and contemplation. The Wood Library (named in memory of Steven Wood) is housed in the Prindle Institute and includes over 1,500 books on ethics and related publications. Lake Flato Architects, leaders in green architecture, created our building’s award-winning design. 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 DePauw 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.

Building Access and Hours

The Prindle Institute is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. while DePauw classes are in session, including Winter Term. The Institute may be accessed over fall and spring recess via swipe card. The Prindle Institute will be closed during University holidays. Unless previously reserved, the Institute is open to students, staff, faculty, and community members for studying, reading, quiet reflection, and discussion. The Wood Library is a quiet area reserved exclusively for study.

The gates at the lower parking lot are open from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. every day of the week.

DePauw faculty have swipe access to the Prindle Institute building Monday-Friday 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., and 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on the weekends.

On selected weekends and evenings near finals week, the Prindle Institute is available for students to use for quiet study later in the evening and on weekends.

Guidelines for Building Use and Access

If you are a student planning an event at the Prindle Institute, please head over to our student event application!

All events are expected to harmonize 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 Institute auditorium and conference rooms are available to all members of the DePauw community. We welcome all ethics-related programming including retreats, lectures, presentations and small-group discussions. Please schedule your event at the Prindle Institute at least 30 days prior to your event.

Priority for Building Use Given to the Following Groups:

  • Activities sponsored by the Institute and ethics-related activities sponsored by Faculty Development.
  • Other ethics-related activities sponsored by student, faculty, and staff groups at DePauw.
  • General lectures or retreats, planning meetings or small-group discussions sponsored by student, faculty and/or staff groups, subject to availability.
  • Other outside events are at the discretion of the director of the Institute. In making these decisions, the director will consider the extent to which the event serves the interests of the Institute, is in line with the Institute’s mission, and/or supports not-for-profit betterment of the community.
  • Major events should be scheduled at least a month in advance. Organizers should note that even minor events may require a longer planning period than anticipated, and should make their requests in a timely manner.
  • No room reservations will be approved less than four working days prior to the requested date.

If you are a student planning an event at the Prindle Institute, please head over to our student event application!

Faculty or Staff Application for Building Reservation

Prindle Institute Reservation Form

Prindle Event Planning FAQs and Guidelines

How do I book a room at the Prindle Institute?

  • Get authorization. For faculty or staff event requests, fill out this form. For student events, visit our student event page.
  • Contact prindleinstitute@depauw.edu to determine whether the room(s) requested are available on the requested date.
  • Upon approval of the event request:
    • The faculty or staff member who made the request must reserve the room(s) on e-Services
    • Contact Jamie Sibbitt to discuss set-up needs.
    • Contact Media Staff to discuss media needs.
    • Arrange for catering if applicable.
    • A representative from the Prindle Institute (prindleinstitute@depauw.edu) will arrange for your DePauw ID card to have gate and door swipe access at the appropriate times.

When I look on e-services, I only see room numbers. What are the rooms called?

  • Auditorium = room #165
  • Great Room (the one with the fireplace) = room #136
  • Conference rooms on either side of the Great Room = room #135 (south side), room #138 (north side)
  • Classroom / conference room = room #152
  • The Wood Library cannot be reserved for events
  • Email Jamie Sibbitt to reserve the Reflection Center

What are the room capacities?

  • Auditorium seats 113
  • Great Room can be set up for a seating capacity of 96
  • Conference rooms on either side of the Great Room each seat 20
  • Classroom / conference room seats 20

What if I have technology needs?

  • The auditorium is equipped with a projector and screen. In order to use these, you need to contact Media Staff.
  • Contact Media Staff to use the flat screen TVs and computer stations in any of the conference rooms.
  • Contact Media Staff to arrange for microphones or to film in any area of the Prindle Institute.

What if I want to have refreshments?

  • You can arrange to have refreshments catered by Bon Appétit or a catering service of your choice. Only licensed catering companies are authorized to use the commercial kitchen at the Prindle Institute.
  • Please ensure that the kitchen is clean when the catering service leaves. No leftover food or garbage should be left in the kitchen after your event is over.
  • Contact Jamie Sibbitt (Facilities) to request the appropriate table and chair setup.
  • Food and beverages are not allowed in the auditorium.

Do I need to lock the building when I leave?

  • After hours, the doors are locked electronically. Please ensure that all of the doors are completely shut when you leave.

If the gates are closed, how go I get out?

  • The exit gate will automatically open when your vehicle gets close enough.

What if I need extra tables or chairs?

  • Contact Jamie Sibbitt (Facilities) to request the appropriate table and chair setup. If you need tablecloths or skirting, you must also request these from Facilities. Please do not move furniture yourself.

Parking information

  • Accessible parking spaces are located at the top level of our parking area. All other vehicles should park in the lower level and use the footpath attached to the parking lot to walk to the building.

What if I need to cancel my event?

  • If you need to cancel your event, please ensure that you delete the event from e-services and contact the Prindle Institute to notify them of your cancellation.

Violations

Failure to appropriately clean up and restore the space utilized, as well as damaged or missing property, may result in the following:

Lower level violation: Following the use of a reserved space, failure to clean up and restore the space to order will result in a notification letter from the Prindle Institute within one week. Consequences of violations may range from a letter of warning, a follow up cleaning, a mandatory meeting, or the charge of a fine based on the specific nature of the violation.

Higher level violation: Harm to individual(s), or damaged, stolen or missing property will result in a referral to DePauw Community Standards.

Ongoing or repeated violations by groups/organizations may lead to additional safeguards for future reservations up to and including suspension of reservation privileges for those groups/organizations. Failure to cooperate in cases of violation may lead to suspension of reservation privileges.

Faculty or Staff Event Application If you would like to host an event at the Prindle Institute, please fill out the application below. If you have questions, please contact prindleinstitute@depauw.edu

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • Please include the time of the event as well as the time needed for set up and clean up.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Visit Us.

LOCATION

2961 W County Road 225 S
Greencastle, IN 46135
P: (765) 658-4075

GET DIRECTIONS

BUILDING HOURS

Monday - Friday: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Saturday-Sunday: closed