Sited near the campus entrance, the admissions center is one of the first buildings that visitors see when entering Brandeis. First impressions were important to our clients when we began talks about design. Several questions became the basis of our work: How might the building accommodate large numbers of people and still feel intimate? How could the architecture impress—but not overwhelm—prospective students?

We knew Brandeis well when we started this project: Charles Rose Architects completed the Campus Center—directly across from the admissions center—in 2002. We linked the admissions building closely to the campus center by creating another sculptural design with limestone and abundant glass. The ground floor public space needed to be able to accommodate 100 visitors at a time. To create a more personal and intimate feel, we designed three separate waiting areas rather than herd people into one large area. The waiting areas are warm and light-filled; one has a fireplace; all have generous views of the campus.