In 2022, the University of Oklahoma received a $15 million gift from alumni Jonny and Brenda Jones to renovate and expand the Jones Family Welcome Center, formerly known as Jacobson Hall. Since 1992, the Welcome Center has served as the front door to the University, where 22,000+ guests visit annually. This July, the newly renovated Jones Family Welcome Center at Jacobson Hall opened its doors for the first time, marking a new era of hospitality and connection for the University of Oklahoma.
The renovation not only allowed for over 17,000 square feet of historic space to be updated, but also added 11,130 square feet for campus tours, admissions, workshops, and meetings, culminating in over 27,000 square feet for guests to explore.
“Historically, the building represents OU’s dedication to the arts and impact of Oscar B. Jacobson, who was once the director of OU’s School of Art,” Marissa Henderson, Director of Campus Experience at the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, said. “In 1952, Jacobson Hall was named in his honor, but his legacy, as well as those who came before him and after, continues to live on through the renovation.”
With the renovation, the OU Family thoughtfully came together to create a space that was not just aesthetically pleasing, but also functional, intentional, and reflective of OU hospitality. This came in the form of one bold design decision—a new addition that houses a 194-seat theater, meeting rooms where admissions counselors can visit with students and supporters, a presentation room that hosts information sessions and special recruitment events, and so much more.
“This addition required OU President Joseph Harroz to sign off,” Marissa said. “We also made the historical decision to have the new addition angled at 45 degrees, a first for campus architecture.”
This allowed for breathtaking views of the North Oval, Evans Hall, and the Clock Tower to be seen through the windows of the new Mark and Catherine Cohen Auditorium and the second-floor presentation room.
"This space is where the OU Family comes together," Marissa said.
The reimagined Jones Family Welcome Center is fit with meeting rooms for one-on-one visits with admissions and recruitment staff, thoughtfully designed foyers that will create connection, murals that represent the heart of OU, and an auditorium with an immersive tour presentation.
This 194-seat theater is where every OU campus tour begins and sets the tone for an immersive and memorable visit. The theater was built for dynamic storytelling with blackout shades and eight synchronized projectors that create a 270-degree display around three walls. At the front of the room, lightboxes with “Boomer” and “Sooner” were designed, built, and installed by OU students and staff at the Fabrication Lab in the Tom Love Innovation Hub.
All guests check in at the front desk and have the option to enjoy a cup of coffee from Elemental Coffee Roasters, Oklahoma’s first specialty coffee roaster founded by OU alumna Laura Phillips. Beyond the front desk, a lobby lined with bookcases showcasing OU memorabilia opens to where visitors can relax and connect with current students, admissions counselors, and other visiting families.
Located on the second floor, this is a welcoming venue for information sessions, tour experiences, and special recruitment events. The second-story overlook offers one of the most breathtaking views on campus of the North Oval and has become a favorite spot for guests to pause and take a glimpse of the historic heart of OU.
Intentionally and thoughtfully created to give students and their supporters a chance to meet with admissions counselors, these meeting rooms allow a space where one-on-one connection happens and can serve as an opportunity to dive deeper into scholarship options, specific questions, and the application process.
To ensure our Student Tour Guides, Connection and Student Engagement interns, and New Sooner Orientation Interns have all the resources they need as ambassadors for OU, this space includes unique features like student whiteboards for daily schedules, a publication wall that houses every printed prospective student material, supply storage, a delivery bay, elevator access, and more.
The conference room is a special place that acts as a bridge between the legacy and future of OU. Functioning as a modern conference space while preserving elements of artistic legacy, it includes original leaded glass windows, preserved woodwork, and carved oak doors. At the center of the room is a refinished conference table that was once housed in former OU President David L. Boren’s conference room.
During visits, guests will discover murals and art created by Tori Willis, senior designer for Enrollment Management Communications and Marketing. Read what inspired Tori to bring a piece of history to life!!
