Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
The Welcome Center serves as the new front door and arrival point to to Aims’ Greeley campus. The Welcome Center includes admissions services, enrollment, records, testing, financial aid, cashier, advising, and the transitions center. The building also includes a auditorium and ballroom that serve as a graduation venue and gathering place that’s available to both Aims and the Northern Colorado community. The ballroom, which accommodates 800 people, is on the third floor to take advantage of Western views toward the Front Range, and includes a rooftop patio. The auditorium is flexible in its scale, and can flex from 500 occupants to 1700 by closing off seating tiers and converting flat floor meeting rooms to open balconies with collapsing tiered seating and operable partitions.
Additionally, the building includes a partially-covered courtyard area for outdoor activities which protects occupants from overexposure to sun and wind. This unique interior courtyard features a two-way stage which allows the auditorium stage to flex from the interior to the exterior.
The goal for this project was to design an iconic front door to the campus which would welcome the Aims community and new students, as well connecting the campus to the greater surrounding community. Additionally, Aims administration wanted to elevate the school’s brand and revolutionize student service delivery by making the processes enjoyable and intuitive.