Most visitor centers and alumni buildings are designed to be functional. Clean lines, good finishes, and a few donor plaques. Nice, but forgettable.
Clemson University took a different path. They built awe into the design, and it changed everything.
When an alumnus pressed his ring into a scanner and watched his name light up, he said one word: “Wow.” That moment wasn’t about technology. It was about memory, connection, and pride.
When you walk into the Alumni Center, it’s an immediate wow. This is where people first experience Clemson and where they’ll form lifelong connections.
Brian O'Rourke | Vice President of Advancement
WHY IT MATTERS
The science backs it up: awe doesn’t just impress people, it transforms them. Neuroscience shows awe quiets the brain’s self-focus, making people more receptive. Studies link awe to generosity, openness, and even the sense that time expands.
For universities, that’s the difference between a visitor passing through and one who becomes a donor, a student, or a lifelong advocate.
We wanted the building to feel like a memory factory, places where alumni, students, and donors discover something unexpected and unforgettable.
Danny Stemann | Chief Creative Officer of Jack Porter
Designing Stories That Stick
Clemson’s new 98,000-sq-ft, five-story, $50 million Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center was built to welcome more than 160,000 visitors annually. Inside, awe is designed into every detail:
- The Ring Scanner. Alumni press their ring and see their name appear in light. It’s a personal story shared instantly with family and social networks.
- The Hidden Poem. Lines from “Something in These Hills” are etched under a staircase, a quiet discovery that deepens emotional ties.
- The Panoramic Views. Lake Hartwell and the Blue Ridge Mountains connect Clemson’s story to its setting.
Engagement Starts Here
Awe is more than a feeling, it’s an action trigger. When visitors stop to scan, sign, post, and share, they’re not just seeing the brand, they’re participating in it.
The ring scanner was my big ‘oh my goodness, I cannot wait to do this’ moment. It’s such a unique feature that makes you feel special and important.
Ellie Bedard | Clemson University Student
At Clemson, engagement is baked into the design:
- Interactive kiosks give prospective students a chance to explore majors and dorms.
- Digital yearbooks let families flip through decades of history together.
- Donor maps make philanthropy visible and tangible
In a facility hosting 160,000+ visitors each year, these sparks multiply into momentum — stories told, memories shared, and new commitments made.
A Behind the scenes look
Ready for the deep dive? Watch our team break down the strategy, challenges, and design decisions that transformed Clemson’s vision into reality.
OUR TAKE
At Jack Porter, we don’t design for “nice.” We design for awe. Because awe is the spark that creates memory, the trigger that drives engagement, and the hidden metric that makes every other KPI stronger.
And here’s the truth: creating awe isn’t easy. Multiple stakeholders, big dollars, competing agendas, it’s a recipe for compromise. That’s where we come in.
We listen first, dig deep, and uncover the authentic story that makes you unique. Then we turn that story into a strategy, a design, and finally, a built experience that delivers measurable impact. From the first whiteboard sketch to opening day, we protect the vision so the end result doesn’t get watered down.
We’re not just delivering square footage. We’re delivering confidence that your investment is going to work for alumni, fans, recruits, donors, and even sponsorship.
Great design is only as good as the execution.
Danny Stemann | Chief Creative Officer of Jack Porter
That’s why we stay at the table from day one until the doors open. Because our job isn’t to take the spotlight. It’s to make sure you, as our client and partner, shine.
We make where matter.
Want to find out more?
