University of Illinois

by Raina Kamrat Higher Education

Welcome Center

Urbana, IL

In 2017 the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign celebrated its sesquicentennial while simultaneously opening a new Welcome Center. The Welcome Center, located in the Alice Campbell Alumni Center, is open to the public and serves to celebrate the University’s heritage and contributions to society. 

Visitors are greeted by cherrywood-clad discovery boxes. The boxes are over 10 feet tall and contain school artifacts, backlit graphics, and interactive video media ribbon. Tabletop displays in coffee tables encase touchscreens to provide interactive information. The lobby displays a showstopping theme sculpture, spanning the entire height of the atrium. Dozens of diplomas cascade from the ceiling, suspended by almost indistinguishable wire.