Cal Poly officially opened a new 3,200 square foot Welcome Center on the university’s campus Tuesday.
Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong introduced the new building located in the yakʔitʸutʸu housing community on Grand Avenue. According to James Maraviglia, Cal Poly Vice Provost for Enrollment, this project has been over six years in the making and was part of the original development of the yakʔitʸutʸu housing community.
“We know through data we tour close to 60,000 to 70,000 prospective students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, potential faculty, so it’s exciting to see it come full scale and to see Cal Poly have this opportunity to have such a great visitor’s center,” Maraviglia said.
He says prior to the grand opening of the facility, campus representatives were meeting all over campus to tour prospective students.
“They’d pick varied spots where they could find space. You think a campus of this size would not have a problem having space. I can attest, we had problems finding space,” Maraviglia said.
Not only is the new center a centrally located meeting hub for student-led campus tours, but it also includes a 142-seat auditorium for presentations.
The university also worked with marketing firm SimpsonScarborough to update the university’s logo as well as it’s updated branding, “Learn by Doing. Ready Day One.”
“Our updated brand, strictly speaking, is a just a new way to talk about something at Cal Poly that we’ve known all along,” President Armstrong said.
In attendance at Tuesday’s presentation were multiple city and county officials, including District 5 San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Debbie Arnold who presented the university with a certificate from the county as a congratulatory sentiment to the opening of the new facility.
