ARLINGTON -- Prospective students will soon have access to University of Texas at Arlington information at a new $1.5 million welcome center featuring state-of-art technology, including three touch-screen kiosks that can be used to find out about academic programs.
The Dan Dipert University Welcome Center is expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors a year. The facility sits in a mixed-use development known as the College Park District. The much-touted district includes parking garages, retail stores, a UT Arlington residence hall, apartment lofts and the welcome center.Final work is under way at the welcome center, which overlooks the university's College Park Center, a $78 million arena that opened earlier this year. On Monday, workers installed wiring, software and landscaping at the building, at South Center and East Second streets."The intent is for a clean, contemporary, modern look," said Curt Kuhlmann, a facilities architect for UT Arlington. "It's the first impression for the parents and students."The new welcome center features a 40-seat circular theater with a multimedia screen that hangs from the ceiling. The 360-degree imaging board will display presentations and is reminiscent of the four-sided video board that hangs at the College Park Center, said Bridget Lewis, a UT Arlington spokeswoman.Kuhlmann said the facility also takes into account today's tech-savvy youth. "The younger generation is so much more advanced in learning and understanding how electronics works," he said.Kuhlmann said the center features retractable glass walls that can be used to close off the theater when necessary.The lobby at the entrance of the building will feature a media wall with eight 19-inch monitors for videos and information. A 42-inch monitor will sit in the center of the wall, Kuhlmann said.Greg Davis, a UT Arlington facilities architect, said the welcome center faces the district's Mortiz Plaza, which can be viewed from large windows. It also houses work stations for guides who will meet with prospective students for campus tours.Some of the walls also feature a crystal chiseled effect on stone material similar to quartz, architects said. Walls in the rotunda/theater are made of material that absorbs sound to help with acoustics. The facility shares a courtyard with Tom J. Vandergriff Hall, which is also in the final stages of completion.Lewis said the center is expected to be fully functional by September. It will be staffed by full-time workers and part-time student employees.The welcome center is named after Dan Dipert, chief executive officer of Arlington-based Dan Dipert Travel & Transportation, Ltd. Dipert and his wife, Linda, committed $400,000 for the project. Linda Dipert is a 2001 UT Arlington alumna.Diane Smith, (817) 390-7675Twitter: @dianeasmith1Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
