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Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

Susquehanna University Admissions House

Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

A modern interpretation of the Susquehanna campus’s core architecture, the Admissions House incorporates a variety of new admissions amenities and welcomes prospective students and guests to the University.

Nicholas Snyder
Nicholas Snyder
Nicholas Snyder
Nicholas Snyder
Nicholas Snyder
Nicholas Snyder
Nicholas Snyder

Project Information

SIZE

15,175 square feet

COMPLETED

2017

AWARDS

AIA NEPA Award of Excellence

PRESS

New Admission House Offers New Opportunities for Prospective Students

As part of a comprehensive plan to expand student enrollment, Susquehanna University recognized the need to replace its existing admissions building to create a more welcoming and exciting initial impression that better conveyed the University’s culture. The new L-shaped admissions house includes two entries that lead guests into a large reception area. Complete with custom Douglas Fir wood finishes, lounge furniture, a fireplace, refreshment bar, and several bay windows with bench seating, the Welcome Room creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. Located off this main area are private interview rooms and a large presentation space. The interview rooms, furnished as small, casual living rooms, are ideal for intimate conversations with prospective students and their families. The meeting room seats 34 around a conference table or nearly 100 in loose chairs, adding flexibility for a variety of presentations and gatherings. Along the front of the building, doors from both the waiting area and meeting room lead onto a large porch with Susquehanna’s signature Adirondack chairs facing the historic center of campus.

In addition to the large front porch and a whitewashed brick façade, the exterior features tall aluminum-clad wood windows, a painted metal standing-seam roof, and residential-scale proportions that are all indicative of the area’s farmhouse vernacular. Together, these architectural features help the building bridge the boundary between the campus core and the adjacent residential neighborhood. A large, glazed roof monitor is a beacon for the building, making it visible and identifiable from many approaches around campus. Overall, the composition of whitewashed brick, the glazing of the presentation room, the Welcome Room’s bay windows, and the long front porch all contribute to creating a striking gateway onto campus for potential students and their families.