Lawrenceville Dedicates Tsai Field House’s Battle-Fitzgerald Atrium, Honoring the School’s First Black Students

Standing ovations, emotional remarks, and expressions of gratitude marked the dedication of the H. Lyals Battle ’67 and Darrell A. Fitzgerald ’68 Atrium in honor of the School's first Black students. The Atrium is located in the second phase of the newly unveiled Tsai Field House, a 250,000 square foot athletic, dining, and social hub on The Lawrenceville School campus.

The evening included a first look at the vibrant mixed media installation created by Lawrenceville’s Artist-in-Residence Stuart Robertson ’11 and students from his varsity arts co-curricular. The installation serves not only to revitalize the historic entrance of the renovated portion of the existing field house, but also to showcase the diverse colors, shapes, and experiences that comprise Lawrenceville today. The installation, coupled with a full and thoughtful retelling of the School’s history of racial segregation and the experiences of its first two Black students, marks a new era for the School and an enduring commitment to inspiring the best in each to seek the best for all.

Echoing the spirit of his Jamaican influences, Robertson's creation celebrates the individuals most central to the School’s enduring purpose — current Lawrentians — as scholars, athletes, artists, performers, makers, fans, and friends.

Seeing the completed mural installed in the renovated atrium for the first time, student-artist Mu Baholyodhin ’26 was amazed by the finished product.

“Even though it was laid out for us, we never got to see it all at scale,” she said. “And this is what it's intended for. I'm just glad that it's going to stay here for a really long time. And I believe that really captures the spirit of our school and it's a beautiful piece of work.”

Karina Stahk ’26 reflected on the process of working with fellow students and Robertson to create the installation.

“Working on the team was such a great experience,” she said. “I learned so much from Mr. Robertson and all the other artists working around me, and it was honestly a life-changing experience for me because I've never worked with such a team of such skilled artists. I'm so grateful to have had this opportunity to work with these people.”

“I’m excited to see how people react to the installation, particularly the students who really invested a lot of curiosity and enthusiasm into it,” Robertson said. “I’m also curious to see how people will relate to it in the future - does it reflect their Lawrenceville experience? If not, is it aspirational? Nostalgic? It will be interesting to see the life of the painting and how people relate to it over time.”

The Atrium is also anchored by two display cases of archival material featuring photographs, letters, and personal memorabilia representing the triumphs and struggles of Battle and Fitzgerald during their time at Lawrenceville, and honoring the individuals who helped pave the way for their entry into Lawrenceville and their advancement once on campus.

In his remarks, Head of School Steve Murray noted the courage of Battle and Fitzgerald in changing the course of Lawrenceville history.

“They knew they would be the first students to be seen as Black,” Murray said, “and they knew winning over hearts and minds in an environment that clung tightly to its traditions would be a challenge.

“I’d like to express our profound gratitude – on behalf of The Lawrenceville School – to Lyals Battle and Darrell Fitzgerald, for taking us on the first steps toward righting the past and carving out a new, more equitable path for the future,” Murray said.

The dedication of Tsai Field House was held 70 years following Brown v. Board of Education. In September 1964, ten years after the landmark Supreme Court case that established a new set of guiding principles aimed at dismantling segregation and ensuring fair and equal access, Battle and Fitzgerald began their high school education at Lawrenceville. They have said the experience transformed their life trajectories, but just as important to note and to celebrate, as the first Black students admitted, their courage catalyzed a slow but inexorable transformation of The Lawrenceville School. Their journey is acknowledged more fully on a prominent plaque in the Atrium.

“I have strong feelings of nostalgia and pride as I stand in front of these doors,” said Joe Tsai ’82, whose vision inspired the Atrium tribute and whose generosity enabled it.

“These doors that open into the atrium of this handsome structure … represent the courage of Lyals and Darrell at a very different time in the School's history,” Tsai continued. “It was a time when the doors of a Lawrenceville education had been shut to Black students, and Lyals and Darrell were the first to come here in 1964. Now the door to Lawrenceville is wide open to give the opportunity to students of all ethnicities, and our School is better for it. This Battle-Fitzgerald Atrium is a symbol of our progress, and we’ve come a long way.”

Tsai, a member of Lawrenceville’s Board of Trustees, went on to discuss the importance of supporting a diverse student body at the School.

“Diversity is about excellence,” he said. “Having students from diverse backgrounds and perspectives will foster active debate and provide a richer learning experience for everyone. Having diversity means a much more robust marketplace of ideas. If we believe in free market competition, with the best ideas rising to the top, then Lawrenceville will offer a better intellectual experience for everyone.”

Battle echoed Tsai’s comments about the benefits of a diverse student body, noting that “the door that opened to Darrell and I in 1964, has led to the acceptance of many other Black students to Lawrenceville.”

“I saw my attendance at Lawrenceville as an important moment in the Civil Rights struggle of the sixties,” said Battle. “It was critical for me to be true to what I had been taught about my heritage and the need for me to excel as a Black person in spite of what anyone else might think about my capabilities or my race.”

Reflecting on his path from housing projects in Trenton, N.J., to Lawrenceville as a young student, Fitzgerald noted how Henry C. Woods Sr., Class of 1914, provided him with a full scholarship, altering the course of his life.

“It’s incumbent that you do something for somebody less fortunate,” Fitzgerald said. “You have no idea how the act of kindness and the difference you can make in someone’s life. I’m a true example of that.

“Mr. Woods changed my life - he gave back, he made me feel important, and he made the investment in me. You give your time, talent, treasure to someone less fortunate - the least among us.”

In closing, Fitzgerald shared a favorite quote from Maya Angelou, “people will forget what you do, they will forget what you say, but they will never forget how you make them feel,” adding, “It’s important if you’ve been blessed to be a blessing for others.

“Lawrenceville changed my life forever, and in turn, we changed Lawrenceville forever,” he said.

Following remarks, Battle and Fitzgerald joined Jon Weiss ’75, President of Lawrenceville’s Board of Trustees, Tsai, and Murray in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Lawrenceville Chaplain Violet Lee closed the ceremony with a Benediction, ushering guests through the new Battle-Fitzgerald Entrance into the Atrium to celebrate and experience the new space.

All members of the Lawrenceville community are encouraged to visit the Atrium to engage with the mural and view a more full telling of this part of the School’s history. As noted by Murray in one of the plaques adorning the walls:

“Today, Lawrenceville is far closer to its professed ideals and mission ‘to inspire the best in each to seek the best for all’ than ever before in its history, thanks to the perseverance and resolve of so many members of this community. Still, ongoing scrutiny of our past is crucial, and looking ahead, ongoing efforts must be made to further strengthen the collective sense of belonging on campus. In that spirit, the design of Tsai Field House, from the Harkness Courtyard to the dedication of the Battle-Fitzgerald Atrium, is aimed at drawing us closer together and celebrates the progress we have made on this critically important journey.”

See more photos from the event in a Lawrenceville Flickr gallery.

For additional information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.