The Lanier Learning Center is a 40,000 sq. ft. classroom and conference space completed in 2023. Entering from the Library, guests are treated to an award-winning stone staircase with soaring vaulted ceilings, which was inspired by the Grand Staircase at Christchurch in Oxford. In addition to ample meeting space, the Learning Center offers quiet space for prayer and reflection in the Cloister, and community space for a cup of coffee and conversation in The Commons.
The centerpiece of the Learning Center is the Great Hall, inspired by the dining hall at Christ Church College, Oxford University. This remarkable space seats more than 400 guests in three long rows with a head table on the platform. Measuring 115 feet long and 40 feet wide, the hall soars nearly four stories high with a vaulted ceiling. Its alabaster windows, quarried in Spain, create a warm and luminous light. While ancient in ambience, the Great Hall has state-of-the-art technology for events large and small.
The Learning Center is home to numerous classes, including:
- Language courses in Hebrew and Greek
- The Hall of Reason, a program dedicated to training in logic and clear thinking
- The Lanier Certificate in Theology and Ministry
- Truett Theological Seminary, Houston Campus
Architectural details throughout the building reflect the historic style of Oxford, where buildings were often constructed over centuries. For this reason, features in the Learning Center were intentionally created to reflect variety over time rather than following modern uniformity.
The Library and Learning Center was designed by Mark Lanier, President and Chair of the Lanier Foundation. Every element of the space was created with care and intention, reflecting the vision to provide a place for study, renewal, and community.