By Michael Freeman, Managing Editor
More than three years after university officials decided to build a welcome center on campus, the Bob and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center will finally be open to greet prospective students, the Abilene community and anyone curious to see the new building.
An invitation-only ceremony to dedicate the 57,000-square-foot, $15.7 million facility will be Saturday at 12:15 p.m. in the McCaleb Conference Center. Later, a private dedication for the outdoor elements of the facility, which include the Rich Welcome Plaza and Labyrinth, Galaxy Park and the Faubus Fountain and Lake, will take place at 2 p.m. The welcome center will be open to the public Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. for an open house tour.
“The Hunter Welcome Center completes our official front door of the campus,” said Dr. Royce Money, president of the university. “That’s our last building we’re going to build out there.”
The welcome center, located on the east end of campus, will house several university departments, including Admissions, Alumni Relations, the Career Services Center, the ACU Foundation and University Events. All departments have finished moving into their new locations, but some are finalizing last-minute touches to the offices, said Beth Holland, senior prospect research officer in the Office of Development.
“There’s still a little bit of settling going on,” she said.
Holland said all move-in activities should be complete by Saturday. She said more than 700 people will attend Saturday’s dedication. Money, Dr. C.E. Cornutt, director of the Board of Trustees, and Dr. Bob Hunter, senior vice president emeritus, will be some of the featured speakers at the dedication. Money said the dedication will pay tribute to the Hunters, thank the donors and applaud the facility.
“I’ve always heard that first impressions are important, and certainly this is a great first impression,” Money said of the welcome center.
Many of the events and departments that were in Zellner Hall and the Hilton Room will now be in the welcome center. Holland said she expects the facility to be used for career fairs, community meetings, weddings and dinners, in addition to being the first place prospective students visit on campus.
“This is the premier place in town now, probably even in this whole region of the state,” Holland said.
