Trinity College Advances Entrepreneurship Center to City Review Stage

Trinity College’s planned Elizabeth Elting Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has advanced to the city review stage, marking a significant step forward in the college’s initiative to establish a dedicated hub for innovation and entrepreneurship on its Hartford campus.

The project, announced in March 2026, follows a lead gift from alumna and former trustee Elizabeth “Liz” Elting, founder of TransPerfect and leader of the Elizabeth Elting Foundation. The center will be constructed on Vernon Street, adjacent to the Cornelia Center, which houses the college’s Center for Career and Life Design.

Project Details and Timeline

The Elizabeth Elting Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will be a 4,300-square-foot facility featuring student accelerator rooms, classrooms, conference space, and an event gathering area designed to foster collaboration among students, faculty, alumni, and community partners. Construction is expected to begin in late spring 2026, with the building slated to open in fall 2027.

Trinity College launched its Center for Entrepreneurship in 2022 to expand experiential learning, mentorship, and partnerships focused on innovation. The new building will provide a dedicated hub for these programs, complementing the existing 13,000-square-foot Trinity Innovation Hub at One Constitution Plaza in downtown Hartford, which opened in 2020 with support from a $2.5 million state grant.

Leadership and Vision

Elizabeth Elting, a 1987 Trinity graduate, built TransPerfect into a multibillion-dollar global business before establishing the Elizabeth Elting Foundation, which supports initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for women and underserved communities. College officials emphasized that fundraising efforts for the new center remain ongoing, though the project’s total cost has not been disclosed.

Strategic Importance

The advancement to city review reflects Trinity College’s commitment to strengthening its role in Hartford’s innovation ecosystem. By integrating academic programming with real-world entrepreneurial opportunities, the center aims to prepare students for the evolving demands of the global innovation economy while strengthening ties with local industry and community partners.

As the project moves through municipal approvals, Trinity College continues to position itself as a leader in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within Connecticut’s higher education landscape.