The Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center will be a high-impact addition to the campus landscape. Baylor University's campus draws approximately 60,000 prospective students, families, alumni and other guests each year, and the Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center will become the front door – for many, the first impression of our beloved institution.
The Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center will function as an entry point for those planning to explore more deeply Baylor's academic programs, musical and theatrical performances, social activities, alumni activities, athletic events, graduation ceremonies and more. Convenient parking and an on-campus shuttle service will provide a comfortable and easy means for navigating campus.
Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center
A ceremonial groundbreaking for the facility was held in February 2020 with an anticipated opening in 2023.
Project Renderings
The Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center is a 120,000-square-foot complex designed to create interest and enthusiasm in the University through a high-tech and interactive experience.
Giving Opportunities
Fundraising for the Hurd Welcome Center is currently ongoing. Naming opportunities range from $20,000 to $1.5 million and include:
- Admissions offices,
- Admissions office suite, and
- Light columns.
Contact Us
Associate Vice President and Campaign Director
Learn More about the Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center
WACO, Texas (Sept. 8, 2023) – Baylor University today dedicated the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center – the new front door to the University’s Waco campus – during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house commemorating the spectacular building’s official opening. The dedication recognized the Hurd Welcome Center’s namesake and lead donors, Paula Hurd and her late husband, Mark Hurd, and their daughters, Kelly, B.B.A. ’14, and Kathryn.
This fall, Baylor University will open the doors of the Mark & Paula Hurd Welcome Center, the newest addition to its growing Waco campus. Many spaces, rooms and balconies of this show-stopping building carry with them the names of the alumni, parents and friends whose generous support of the Give Light Capital Fund fueled the construction and design of the many capital priorities of the Give Light Campaign.
