Southern University has officially opened its new Welcome Center, marking a major step forward in improving campus accessibility and strengthening community engagement. Located across from the campus guard shack on Harding Boulevard, the approximately 15,000-square-foot facility is designed to serve as a modern “front door” to the university. The Welcome Center represents a strategic shift in campus layout, relocating traffic flow and parking toward the front of campus. This change is expected to make navigation easier for visitors, current and former students, and members of the surrounding community. In addition to improving accessibility, the building is designed as a multi-purpose venue allowed for hosting events, orientations and even places to sit and possibly complete assignments.
On Monday, March 30, the university celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by faculty, staff, students, and project members. The event featured remarks from several speakers who emphasized the importance of the new facility and its impact on campus life. Events Operations & Facilities Coordinator, Ms. Linda Jackson, previously worked in HVAC services at Southern. In her new role, she oversees operations, event coordination, and helps staff and students. Jackson highlighted the opportunities the Welcome Center will bring, stating, “I think this building is a new gateway to open opportunities financially, through space and ways to give back to the community,” she also added that the building can be rented out for events, allowing revenue to be reinvested into the university and its students.
The new facility includes open lobby areas where visitors can charge devices, receive parking assistance, and gather comfortably. Its design reflects a focus on both function and hospitality, creating a welcoming environment for all guests.
During the ceremony, university officials also shared details about the project’s funding. Director of Title III Programs, Mr. Huey Lawson explained, “Grants 100% funded this building, allowing a vision to become a plan. These funds came from federal and institutional programs, including the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Title III funding, and a Green Infrastructure grant supporting the building’s landscape,” concluded Lawson.
The project also provided valuable hands-on experience for students. Simone Whitmore, Chair of the Department of Construction Management, noted that students were invited to visit the construction site throughout the process. This gave them the opportunity to observe the building’s progress in real time, turning the project into what she described as a “living laboratory.”
With its opening, the Welcome Center stands as a symbol of evolving, innovation, and continued investment in the Southern University community.
