New York City, NY
Menlo Park, CA
Miami, FL
Chicago, IL
Washington D.C.
Boston, MA
Los Angeles, CA
Strategic Design
Creative Development
Production
On-Site Logistics
When Boston University welcomed its 11th president, Dr. Melissa Gilliam, it marked a defining moment for the institution and a rare opportunity to engage alumni communities nationwide. To ensure that introduction felt both meaningful and personal, BU partnered with Level5 to produce a multi-city Presidential Welcome Tour designed to foster connection, conversation, and shared purpose.
Each event reflected Dr. Gilliam’s warmth, intellect, and authenticity, creating environments where alumni felt invited into dialogue rather than positioned as an audience.
Photography provided by Boston University.
This was more than a tour. It was an intentional first chapter in a new relationship between president and community. Each stop was designed to feel welcoming, thoughtful, and personal, balancing the gravitas of a presidential transition with the intimacy of conversation. Alumni-moderated Q&A sessions allowed for candid exchange, while a modular scenic environment created a sense of familiarity across diverse venues. President Gilliam’s presence felt approachable and genuine, and attendees left not only knowing more about her leadership, but feeling they had truly met her.
True to the spirit of the tour, listening was as central as leading. Level5 conceptualized and designed a signature Engagement Zone, a red phone installation that offered alumni a personal moment to leave messages for President Gilliam. At each stop, guests recorded reflections, greetings, and aspirations, creating a growing collection of voices that became a curated audio archive for the president. The experience invited authenticity and emotion, reinforcing the idea that leadership is built not just through vision, but through listening.
BU’s selection of culturally significant and architecturally distinct venues brought both opportunity and complexity. Many of these spaces carried late load-in restrictions and unique logistical considerations that demanded flexibility without compromising design integrity. Level5 led the development of a modular scenic system that adapted seamlessly across venues. Designed to be as practical as it was polished, each environment elevated the experience while remaining restrained and intentional, balancing institutional gravitas with Dr. Gilliam’s modern, minimalist sensibility.
