Young people weigh a lot of factors when considering where to study, often relying on digital tools to compare options and find the right fit.
But at Dalhousie, one of the most critical steps still happens in person when a prospective student sets foot on campus. The first stop for many visitors is the Welcome Centre, a space where they can connect face-to-face with members of the university’s recruitment team.
It follows to reason that the vibe people feel in this space matters — a lot.
"They might not remember facts, but they’ll remember how they felt,” says Joy Baillie, Dal's manager of Future Student Events & Engagement. “That’s what we prioritize — a positive, authentic experience that complements all the digital research.”
They might not remember facts, but they’ll remember how they felt.
A physical refresh undertaken on Dal’s Welcome Centre this year seeks to deepen the sense of engagement and connection people feel in the space.
A future-focused transformation
Prior to the changes, Baillie says the area was almost completely white with old-timey black and white photos, leaving a slightly sterile impression. Now, visitors are greeted by bold and colourful visuals, interactive elements, and other details that feel more lived in and comfortable.
Whale tales and other nods to local wildlife help animate the centre's spaces.
A new mural anchors the centre’s main seating area, drawing people into a cheerful Where’s Waldo-style hunt around campus and Halifax landmarks for the Dal Tiger and Rocky the Ram — the university’s two mascots.
While early discussions on the design centred around weaving facts, history, and stories about Dal into the artwork, Baillie says they ended up seeking a more timeless approach that showcases campus life and what’s possible at Dal.
“The Tigers and Rams represent every future Tiger and Ram,” she says. “There’s one in the lab, there’s one in the new area, one graduating. If you look closely, you’ll even see the Halifax Harbour and George’s Island.”
A closeup on a segment of the new mural.
The mural was hand drawn with a digital pencil by Josh Rooney, senior manager of graphic design with Dal’s Creative Studio. He says Baille and others involved asked for a piece visitors could scan quickly and engage with casually while waiting for a campus tour or meeting.
“We’ve been asking ourselves a lot lately: ‘Is this for us or is this for them?’” says Rooney. “And that piece is for them.”
Dal Creative Studio's Andrezza Nascimento and Josh Rooney, left and right respectively, lounge in the refreshed Welcome Centre with Student Ambassador Sophia Russell.
A sense of place
Other changes to the Welcome Centre, including new graphics on the walls in the hallways and in meeting rooms, also encourage prospective students to “see yourself here.”
Symbols of Nova Scotia and life near the ocean — designed by Creative Studio’s Andrezza Nascimento — serve as a thematic thread throughout the space, evoking a strong sense of place. These pieces also serve a more practical wayfinding purpose.
“The idea was to brand the rooms. Now, there’s a lighthouse room, a Bluenose room, and so on. For students — especially ones unfamiliar with campus — that’s much easier to remember than room numbers. It helps them navigate where meetings are happening.”
The Bluenose and Lighthouse rooms, with whale tale wall decal.
Tiger prints on the floor add a fun little element to the wayfinding experience, too, and complement some of the more conventional arrows and informational signage included in the project.
Installation of the mural, graphics and signage — all vinyl — was done in-house by Dalhousie’s Print Services, leading to substantial cost savings on the project.
An interactive digital screen was also installed in the Welcome Centre this year, enabling people to get a glimpse into residences and other campus facilities. This complements the physical model of a residence room that visitors can also tour.
Students entering the revamped Welcome Centre have responded well so far to the changes, says Baille, and the timing has worked out well with the broader recruitment cycle. March and April are considered key decision-making months for students, some of whom make last-minute visits before affirming their choices.
The goal is for them to feel like Dal wants them here — and that they could build real relationships.
Baille sees the refresh as fitting well the overall spirit of Dal’s current approach to recruitment, which leans into personalization, friendliness and connection. There are handwritten postcards in tour bags, meetings with coaches, and other touches that make it crystal clear “you’re not just a number.”
“We lean heavily into ‘unreasonable hospitality,’” she says. “The goal is for them to feel like Dal wants them here — and that they could build real relationships.”
