Kalamazoo College hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Welcome Center, located in the building that was formerly the Hall House Bed & Breakfast located on West Main hill. It was recently acquired by Kalamazoo College. They converted it into a new welcome center and home for the Admissions department. The house was not barrier-free, so the garage was converted into a wheelchair accessible entryway and welcome center. This opens into the house where the existing bedrooms were converted into offices and interview rooms. Employees and visitors occupy the first and second floors, while the basement was renovated into a break room and shared meeting space. The third floor was converted into mechanical space. Historic Pewabic tile was maintained in one existing toilet room and on the floor of the main foyer. Original wood flooring was salvaged and refinished along with the original doors and wood trim in areas where it was not disturbed by reconfiguration.
“The house just represents exactly who we are. And it’s fitting that the admissions center will be right at the entrance of the campus. Just think about it, every single prospective student who comes to the college, they’re going to be walking through here. The work that you will see here has been the result of the efforts of many different entities and individuals. The architectural firm Seven Generations did a great job renovating this space. And if you remember this house, there used to be a garage right here. As you walk through the doors you’re going to see the great job that they did in converting that garage into a very nice welcoming center that is also accessible for people with different abilities.”
– Jorge Gonzalez, President at Kalamazoo College