Trinity The T. Rex Will be Exhibited to The Public : The Phoebus Foundation Will Include Trinity in Its ‘Boerentoren’ Cultural Centre in Antwerp, Belgium

The buyer of Trinity, the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton sold for CHF 5.5 million ($6 million) at Koller Auctions in Zurich on 18 April, is The Phoebus Foundation, a non-profit art foundation. Phoebus has announced their intention to show Trinity to the public in their ‘Boerentoren’ cultural centre project in Antwerp, designed by Daniel Libeskind.

The Boerentoren (literally translated as ‘Farmer’s Tower’, a nickname that stuck) was the first skyscraper in Europe, completed in 1931. In 2021, the tower, originally constructed as an office building with apartments, was purchased by The Phoebus Foundation, which will turn it into a public space in a few years. The entire building will be dedicated to culture, with extensive space for temporary and long-term exhibitions, a sculpture garden and a panoramic viewpoint, as well as numerous culinary experiences. Daniel Libeskind is currently working on the final designs to convert what remains of the original art deco building into a truly unique architectural landmark. The addition of Trinity to the collection of The Phoebus Foundation will only add to the Boerentoren’s appeal.

Trinity already enchanted approximately 35 000 visitors during a three-week exhibition at the Tonhalle concert hall in Zurich, and has been featured in countless press articles, television and radio broadcasts and blogs worldwide.
Dr Katharina Van Cauteren, Chief of Staff of the Chancellery of The Phoebus Foundation, said:

‘‘We are incredibly proud to announce that this spectacular specimen will be part of a significant Phoebus Foundation project, namely the so-called ‘Boerentoren’. This iconic building, located in the heart of Antwerp, will be renewed and transformed by renowned architectural firm Studio Libeskind into a cultural tower, containing – amongst others – our extensive art collection, now including this memorable addition called Trinity. Correspondingly, the dinosaur will go on public display in the Boerentoren, where art lovers, historians, researchers, enthusiasts, and all other visitors can fully enjoy the history and beauty of art, science, architecture and more in all their facets. ‘Since the completion of the Boerentoren is still several years away, we are exploring the possibility of lending Trinity to a museum in the meantime, so that the public can already enjoy this unique specimen. Scientists also need not worry: like the rest of our collection, Trinity is available for research’.

Image : Koller Auctions/Oliver Nanzig