A Student-centric Welcome Centre Creates an Indelible First Impression

The advent of welcome centres on college and university campuses is one of the most significant trends in education architecture. Recognizing that prospective students and their parents form an opinion of a school within minutes of arriving, Conestoga College engaged ACi to create a new Welcome Centre on its Doon campus – one designed to leave a powerful and lasting first impression.

Our mandate was to align the College’s strategic messaging and service delivery model with the flow, look, and feel of a modern one-stop service hub. Key to the Welcome Centre’s success is a highly accessible, flexible environment. Bookable meeting rooms and technology-enhanced student and service spaces radiate from the entry hall, allowing for seamless use of space.

The Welcome Centre involved the repurposing of 21,500 square feet of office space into a warm and inviting suite of spaces centred on student recruitment, registrar support, and meeting/classroom spaces. The dramatic new entry hall anchors the design, enabling smooth transitions between uses. The addition and renovations extend an authentic message of welcome by visually enlarging the space, introducing abundant natural light, and animating the space with vibrant colours. The surrounding wooded landscape forms the perfect backdrop for the inspiring spaces within.