Mark and Paula Hurd shared a collective aspiration: to establish a space on the Baylor University campus where students and alumni could congregate amidst school spirit and tradition.
“You know, this facility was meant to be able to be a gathering place, that true front door to the Baylor campus, which we haven’t had before.”
Jason Cook, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Baylor, has been working on this project for the last 2 years.
“For me, having worked so long in this building, it’s the look in people's eyes and expressions when they walk into this facility. You know, it is a really ‘wow,’ jaw dropping moment.”
The architectural design and construction were overseen by global architecture firm Populous and Texas-based company Vaughn Construction. The project spanned over two years, involving nearly 200 contributors. Marco Guerrero, a Waco native employed by Vaughn Construction, managed the project.
“I actually grew up in Waco, the city has been more than just a location for me, it’s more of a home. A community rich with memories and connections. Coming back to Waco to take on the role of a project manager for this remarkable project was a truly meaningful experience. My favorite part of the project is really just when you get a chance to stand inside of the auditorium.
You are able to look out to the Baylor community and Baylor campus, and it just really takes you home. You really get to reflect up there. In my heart, it was really coming back home to the city that I grew up in.
Alumni and faculty member, Camille Watson, remembers the first time she walked through the old Baylor welcome center when she was just 16 years old. She says it was one of the many things that encouraged her to attend the University.
“I have always loved how welcoming Baylor is. We don’t just care about, you know, students feeling like they have a place here but also really stewarding to families during the whole college application process, and that’s always been, I think, about how we do welcoming and recruiting and admissions at Baylor. So having this in mind for all members of the Baylor family before, during, and after, is really, really special and I think it is a great way for our community to come together.”
The building's most prominent feature is hard to miss. Four interactive pillars in the new Carlton Hall extend 96 feet into the air and are visible to those driving on I-35. Each pillar, distinct in interior design and equipped with custom technology, represents a core value of the University: Reflect, Connect, Aspire, and Amplify.
These pillars also symbolize the four focuses of the "Illuminate Forward" plan, a strategic plan spearheaded by Baylor in 2018, and the four stone columns in Independence, Texas, reminiscent of the original Baylor campus established in 1845.
The welcome center boasts various other features, including a spirit shop, Varsity Coffee and Soda, the McLane Family Alumni Center, and the Fudge Family Auditorium. A gold line runs through Carlton Hall, representing the Baylor line.
“So the Baylor line has two meanings. In a metaphorical sense the Baylor line is a continuation of the Baylor family as they come and continue on. Like, as a line of alumni and current students, you know, continuing on. And then the Baylor line is the same name we have for our freshmen when they run across the football field at the beginning of every home game. It represents that excitement and that adrenaline during game day when we are just so excited to be together, and cheer as a Baylor family. But it really strongly represents how we continue to be a family after students graduate.”
The Baylor line is a special part of the school's tradition, and is a favorite memory for many students, including Brooke Woodall, a junior at the university.
“I really like the connect pillar because you walk in and it has a video of running the line. So you feel like you are running the line when you are in the pillar, which is really cool.”
While the official inauguration of the Hurd Welcome Center is slated for September 8th, the building is accessible to the public, inviting visitors to explore Baylor's new focal point and experience the University's latest addition to the campus.
With 103.3 Waco Public Radio, I’m Autumn Jones.