September 30, 2009
Open house to showcase renovated Visitor Information Center
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's newly renovated Visitor Information Center will host an open house on Friday (Oct. 2).New wall panels, sleek light fixtures, touch screen interactive maps and flat screen TVs are part of an upgrade that started last spring.
The open house is from 4-6 p.m. at the refurbished center at 504 Northwestern Ave. in West Lafayette. Attendees at the event may park for free in the Purdue parking garage on Northwestern.
"This is the first stop many people make at Purdue, and it can set the stage for a lifelong relationship," said Teri Lucie Thompson, vice president for marketing and media. "First impressions are critical, and this new Visitor's Center hits the mark. For nearly a quarter of a century, the center has welcomed visitors to campus, and now with the newly remodeled interior, the center will provide an even warmer welcome to visitors."
The center houses information about the Greater Lafayette area and Purdue's campus and academic programs. With the help of 40 student volunteers, the center served more than 200,000 visitors during the 2008 calendar year. This included giving campus tours to more than 10,000 visitors.
Students in Windell "Otie" Kilmer's art and design course submitted design concepts for the renovation, providing the inspiration for the remodeling, Thompson said. Kilmer is a professor of visual and performing arts at Purdue.
"The center boasts contemporary style, high-tech touch screen and flat screen monitors to serve visitors' informational needs, and plenty of 'old gold and black,'" Thompson said. "With welcoming and friendly staff ready to assist, visitors will find the Information Center a great start to their campus experience."
At the open house, student ambassadors will greet attendees. Free refreshments will be served. Guests may also take a ride on the Boilermaker Special that is scheduled to depart from the Visitor Information Center and provide campus tours and stops to other parking garages during the open house.
Writer: Soumitro Sen, 765-496-9711, ssen@purdue.edu
Source: Teri Lucie Thompson, 765-494-2082, tlthompson@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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