IWU WELCOME CENTER

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Illustration of a geometric ruler set, including a triangle ruler, with black outlines, orange base and inner triangle, used for drawing and measuring angles and lengths.

Interior + Exterior Design

2025

Stylized icon of stairs with an arrow pointing upward, a circle, and an X symbol

FROM PROBLEM
TO DESIGN

Our Process

Marion Design Co. was hired by Indiana Wesleyan University's marketing team to transform an existing campus building into the new IWU Welcome Center — a bold first impression for prospective students, families, and visitors arriving on campus for the first time.

  • The previous welcome experience didn't reflect the energy or ambition of IWU's campus identity. The building selected for the new Welcome Center had served as office and classroom space - functional, but neutral. It lacked the brand presence and visitor flow needed to make a lasting impression on prospective students and families at one of the most important decision-making moments of their lives.

  • Marion Design Co. approached the project from the outside in, studying both the building's existing architecture and the experience of the visitors it would serve. We developed multiple exterior and interior configurations through three-dimensional renderings, giving IWU stakeholders the ability to see and feel the space before construction began. Every decision, from traffic flow and parking to selfie spots and signage  was made with one question in mind: what does a prospective student need to feel the moment they arrive?

  • Today, the IWU Welcome Center makes its impression from the street. Bold IWU signage, layered lighting, and a redesigned parking and wayfinding pull visitors naturally toward the entrance. Inside, a dynamic feature wall greets guests with dynamic student life imagery and IWU interactive maps,  including selfie spots anchored by IWU, Wesley Seminary, and athletics logos that give prospective students an immediate, shareable connection to the university. A café window, warm sconce lighting, and open sightlines straight through to campus set the tone for the IWU college experience. 

    The result is a space that doesn't just orient visitors — it inspires them. For a prospective student walking through those doors, Indiana Wesleyan University feels like a place they belong.

Exterior view of Indiana Wesleyan University campus showing large display panels with campus images, logos, and university’s mission statement, along with a woman sitting inside a phone booth and a man standing nearby. Modern building architecture and decorative hanging lights are visible.
Interior view of a modern lobby with large windows, a person in a wheelchair, a man looking at a large digital screen, and contemporary furniture, featuring red and white color schemes.
Front view of the Indiana Wesleyan Welcome Center, a brick building with large glass entrance and parking lot.
Indiana Wesleyan University Welcome Center building with a red sign in front, parking lot with cars, and overcast sky.
Interior view of Indiana Wesleyan University with a large wall display featuring the university's emblem, founding year, and a quote about scholarship, with people in the foreground.
Transformation

Before & After

New Interiors
Original Building
Before After
Drag to compare
A person is touching a digital display screen showing an article about mushroom picking, with a photograph of a man holding a basket of mushrooms.
Poster showing students talking outside with statistics on IU students and graduates, including graduation success rate and ranking.
Red entrance door with a sign above that reads 'WELCOME BIENVENIDOS' on a brick building.
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