A learning place where "MIX" are created - A Day of ICU Student at the Troyer Memorial Arts and Sciences Hall

Join us for a tour of the Troyer Memorial Arts and Sciences Hall (T-kan)!

T-kan is located between the west side of the University Hall and the Science Hall and combines the functions of both buildings.
This further enhancement of the campus environment will encourage exchange
among faculty members and students beyond their majors and lead to "integration of knowledge."
The floor area of 10,027m² is the largest on campus, surpassing the University Hall.

Ground-breaking Design

One feature of the building is its massive wooden eaves. Around seven meters in width, they are a far cry from the usual image of eaves. The design not only imparts the warmth of wood, but also provides a sheltering space where people can meet and relax.

Interaction Space "Hub Central"

"Hub Central" on the first floor is an interaction space where multiple students can get together and make use of the space for various different purposes. Furnished with tables, sofas, and other fixtures, it invites spontaneous gatherings and collaboration.

A Café Named after Greek Mythology

Nestled in one corner of Hub Central is Café ILION, which operates on a cashless self-checkout system. With "Troyer" bringing to mind Troy in Greek mythology, the café was named "Ilion" as the other name for Troy.

Knowledge and Individuality Mix in ICU’s Biggest Classroom

Designed for large-scale classes and lectures, such as for general education courses, this huge classroom can seat 300 people. Despite its size, it holds fast to the ICU philosophy of learning through dialogue. At times during class, students and faculty members engage in discussion, or students engage in groupwork together. It is this intersection of students with different areas of expertise and different backgrounds that opens up new perspectives.

Glass-walled Laboratories Spark Curiosity

One feature of T-kan is its glass-walled laboratories. Natural science lab facilities previously located in the Science Hall have been moved to this new location, where the transparent walls enable passing students to see inside. The easy access to science is designed to spark students’ curiosity and generate unexpected ideas.

First Step toward "Integration of Knowledge"

According to Professor Ken Okano(Major: Physics, Environmental Studies), who is in charge of natural science facility management, "While the idea of physics and chemistry undertaken in the labs can seem intimidating, the open design has led to a lot of faces watching through the glass̶and piquing interest is the first step toward ‘integration of knowledge.’ "

Offices Open to All Students

During office hours, a stream of students visit faculty members in their offices on the second and third floors of T-kan. They come for many different reasons, from questions and discussion about lecture content to major selection, extracurricular activities, and post-graduation career paths.

A Sense of the Site’s Grand History

The central stairs connecting the third and fourth floors offer a fascinating display of the stratigraphy of soil excavated as part of the buried cultural property survey conducted prior to the building’s construction. The bottommost layer dates back around 40,000 years BP when the human race first appeared on the Japanese archipelago. The size of the display imparts a real sense of the accumulation of time.

A Research Institute Space that Accelerates Integration

Five research institutes located in the University Hall have been clustered on the fourth floor of T-kan. Conversation spaces have been created in front of them to encourage more cross-disciplinary exchange. We asked the research institute directors about their hopes and expectations of T-kan.

ICC explores themes in the study of Christianity and related fields and communicates research outcomes via lectures, symposia, and our bulletin Humanities: Christianity and Culture. T-kan is a real "salon of knowledge". I see it becoming a space for interaction that will deepen knowledge and thought beyond researchers’ own areas of expertise.

IACS comprehends Asian history and culture from a broad perspective, passing on the results to society through the bulletin Asian Cultural Studies and over 300 open lectures. T-kan is incredibly appealing as a space for the dialogue prized by ICU. Our friendly staff are well-versed in Asia’s many different languages.

IERS was established in 1953 as ICU’s first research institute. It pursues both basic and applied education research, and communicates the outcomes of that research to society via our bulletin Educational Studies and various events. I hope that T-kan will strengthen the connections among ICU’s research institutes and provide more opportunities for students to stop by.

SSRI publishes the Journal of Social Science and conducts open lectures and joint research projects. We aim to become an international hub for academic exchange and knowledge sharing in the social sciences. T-kan will promote further integration between the humanities and the natural and social sciences and encourage dynamic interdisciplinary research.

ICU was founded with a mission of peace. PRI conducts interdisciplinary research to promote the pursuit of peace around the world. It looks forward to working in the "T-kan," which exists in harmony with the natural landscape of ICU’s campus. PRI will work alongside ICU’s other research institutes to produce high quality research outcomes, and to continue to attract top students and faculty from Japan and around the world.