Wheaton College aims to start constructing new welcome center this fall

When visitors arrive on Wheaton College's campus they often don't know where to go.

"Many of them stop at Blanchard Tower and of course there's no receptionist there," college architect Bruce Koenigsberg said. "Some stop at the bookstore building. There is a receptionist there, that is where the current admissions office is, but it's not really easy to find."

On Monday, the Wheaton City Council will consider approving a zoning application and granting the college a special use permit to construct a new two-story, 11,600-square-foot welcome center at the corner of College Avenue and Chase Street.

An apartment and student house that included a total of 34 beds for students was demolished in April on the land where college officials hope to construct the welcome center. Koenigsberg said now that those two structures are gone, the welcome center would be the only building on the front lawn of the campus, making it "intuitive for first-time visitors, that this is the place you need to stop."

"We want the building to be the new front door to our campus," he said.

The interior of the building will feature a large lobby and receptionist desk to welcome guests, along with offices for the undergraduate admissions department.

"We're trying to make it feel residential and welcoming," Koenigsberg said. "We're really pleased with the design."

The welcome center is part of the school's capital campaign. Koenigsberg said if zoning approval is granted by the city, construction will likely begin this fall and be completed in about a year.