Travel I-35 from the north or south through Waco, and you are sure to see the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center on the horizon. The impressive, modern building with nods to Baylor’s historic architecture sits along University Parks Drive and Interstate 35, greeting visitors as an inviting threshold to more than just the physical campus – but to the traditions, faith and history that help to make Baylor so special.
Home to Baylor’s campus visits program, McLane Family Alumni Center and more, the Hurd Welcome Center is the front door to Baylor University. From future students learning about the vibrant Baylor experience, to alumni reconnecting and gathering for events, students, faculty and staff engaging in academic and student life activities, groups meeting to advance the work of the University, and leaders from our hometown participating in networking events that strengthen the Baylor-Waco partnerships, everyone is welcome here.
Enter the impressive, modern building and you’ll find a high-tech and high-touch atmosphere that brings Baylor’s mission to life. Guests are greeted at the north and south entrances by individuals who will help them navigate the Center and connect with the people and services they need.
The entrances open into the awe-inspiring Carlton Hall a 19,000 square-foot, 70-foot-tall space with natural light pouring in from windows on the north and south walls. Visitors will enjoy comfortable seating areas in Carlton Hall – for relaxing prior to a campus tour, enjoying quiet conversations or small gatherings or to serve as a meeting place for reuniting alumni.
On the floor, guests will find a brass line stretching along the breadth of Carlton Hall, disappearing into the double doors, leading out into Baylor’s campus. The line represents That Good Old Baylor Line, welcoming prospective students to start their Baylor journeys while also welcoming alumni home to their alma mater.
One striking feature of the Hurd Welcome Center is the cluster of four lighted columns, which help to shape the building’s singular silhouette. They are more than a design feature, though, as inside each column serves as an immersive experience, where prospective students can quite literally see the sights and hear the sounds of Baylor, from running the Baylor Line to celebrating the stories of impact from Baylor alumni around the world. Other columns help students imagine how their future aspirations are illuminated at Baylor and see themselves reflected in the Baylor Family. Reflective of the four columns still standing at the site of the University’s original home in Independence Texas, the columns bring to life the full impact of a Christian research University that holds firm to its role in preparing leaders and servants who make a difference in the world.
Branching off from Carlton Hall, guests will find all kinds of amenities, from Varsity Coffee and Soda and the Baylor Spirit Shop to a 1,000-seat ballroom to various lounge and meeting areas.
A beautiful and inviting new home for Baylor alumni can be found on the northwest end of the second floor in the McLane Family Alumni Center. The McLane Family Alumni Center includes a welcome area more akin to a cozy living room, with plush seating, a fireplace and memorabilia of Baylor past and present. Beyond the living room are private meeting spaces and conference rooms for alumni reuniting on campus and for alumni and volunteer leadership gatherings.
Guests may drop in or make an appointment to connect with staff from the Baylor Alumni program, leaders of our parent program or other members of our advancement team to renew friendships and learn about opportunities to support the work of the University.
On the south end of the second floor, the Fudge Family Auditorium, with its panoramic window looking out on Baylor’s campus, provides an impressive first look for prospective students, as well as for attendees at special events, presentations and meetings. The auditorium’s state-of-the-art video and audio capabilities will help provide a memorable impression for guests.
Named in honor of the transformational giving of Mark and Paula Hurd, who have generously supported athletics, scholarships, academics and this beautiful place to welcome our friends and family, the Hurd Welcome Center has changed the landscape of our campus for generations to come.