Baylor's New Front Door

Prominently positioned at the corner of Interstate 35 and University Parks Drive, the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center will be a high-impact addition to Baylor’s campus landscape. It will join McLane Stadium and the Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion, for which ground will be broken this summer, as campus icons along I-35.

The Hurd Welcome Center is a $60 million, 120,000-square-foot complex designed to create interest and enthusiasm in the University and a hub for the 60,000 prospective students, families, alumni and guests who visit campus every year. The new facility also will serve as the home of undergraduate admissions and for Baylor Alumni.

Baylor Vice President for Advancement David Rosselli, A.B.C. ’17, said the Hurd Welcome Center will transform how the University interacts with visitors.

“We are truly humbled by the generosity of the entire Hurd family, and we are grateful that they sought to extend their legacy at Baylor through this incredible gift,” Rosselli said. “Mark Hurd was a visionary leader, and we give thanks that this bold addition to our Baylor campus will carry the Hurd namesake.”

The Hurd Welcome Center will benefit prospective students and their families, current students, alumni and visitors alike with features such as:

• Grand Hall, a light-filled, expansive space that provides an open door to campus for prospective students and alumni, interactive exhibits and a connection point for all guests
• An admissions lobby welcoming prospective students and their families to Baylor
• A 1,000-seat ballroom designed to host presentations and dinners with the ability to convert into smaller meeting spaces for students and alumni
• A fan-themed spirit shop with the latest Baylor apparel
• A 250-seat, suspended auditorium that opens to a stunning campus view
• An exterior terrace with views of McLane Stadium and the Brazos River that includes a covered space for events and receptions
• Green space for outdoor events and concerts
• Convenient visitor parking with easy access to campus

Vaughn Construction, in partnership with architectural firm Populous, began work on the facility last fall. The Hurd Welcome Center is expected to be completed in mid-2023.