Gardner-Webb University Connects Three Campus Experiences with Concept3D
About Gardner-Webb University
Gardner-Webb University, located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, is a private Christian university serving approximately 3,500 students. With a mission to integrate faith, learning, and service, Gardner-Webb is committed to creating meaningful campus experiences both in-person and online.
Initial Challenge: An Illustrated Map and Fragmented Digital Experience
Before implementing Concept3D, Gardner-Webb relied on static, illustrated campus maps that lacked interactive elements and proved not to be mobile-friendly. The illustrated version identified buildings on campus but students, parents, and visitors couldn’t search, filter, or use it for real-time navigation.
“The old map looked nice, but it wasn’t functional. Families had to zoom in and out on PDFs, and there was no way to integrate events or directions,” Thea Thompson, Interim Vice President of Marketing and Communications said.
At the same time, digital engagement across campus was disjointed. The map, calendar, and virtual tour all lived separately, requiring multiple links and creating a fragmented user experience. A website redesign with new plugin requirements additionally prompted Gardner-Webb to seek a more modern solution.
(Before Concept3D)
(With Concept3D)
Solution: A Connected Suite of Concept3D Tools
Gardner-Webb adopted Concept3D’s Campus Map, Virtual Tour, and Localist Events Calendar to deliver a unified, mobile-friendly experience.
“I would say its connectivity to all of our existing platforms, knowing you can transition easily from events to map to virtual tour and vice versa. I think that was a huge… that, for me, was a huge deciding factor,” Thea Thompson shared.
This seamless integration transformed how students, families, and staff navigate the university’s digital front door.
1. Integrated Campus Experience
Concept3D’s connected platform turned separate tools into a single ecosystem.
“When someone is on the tour, they can easily jump to the map. When they’re on the map, they can check events in the calendar. That integration was huge for us,” Thea Thompson shared.
Instead of managing three separate vendors, contracts and CSM systems, Gardner-Webb has a single point of contact for three major digital tools that deliver a holistic experience for prospective and current students.
2. Centralized Event Calendar
The adoption of Localist Events gave Gardner-Webb a single, comprehensive home for campus events.
“We really and truly got a centralized events calendar by transitioning to Localist,” Thompson exclaimed.
Departments across campus now contribute to one unified calendar, making it easier for students and families to discover events both large and small.
3. Event Layering for Campus Life
Gardner-Webb uses Concept3D’s map to highlight special events with dedicated layers, such as Family Weekend and Webbstock, a signature Spring festival.
“Being able to create layers for events is a huge benefit. Parents can see where to park, which buildings are open, and what activities are happening, all in one place,” Thea Thompson said.
This functionality supports both logistics and school spirit by ensuring campus traditions are more accessible and wildly attended.
4. Enhanced Recruitment and Marketing
The interactive virtual tour showcases Gardner-Webb’s scenic campus to prospective students unable to visit in person.
In addition, the mobile-friendly compatibility of the tours offered a vital gateway for Gen-Z students who are used to engaging with colleges on their smart phones.
“We wanted a tool that would resonate with Gen Z and their families—something intuitive and visually appealing. Concept3D delivered exactly that.”
Thea Thompson, Interim Vice President of Marketing & Communications
5. Scalability and Ease of Use
Departments across campus can now update their own content within the system, reducing reliance on central marketing. An intuitive interface and user experience supports individual team agency for updating events, locations, buildings and other key locations on campus. The consistent branding has helped shape a strong impression of university credibility across departments.
6. Outstanding Partnership and Ongoing Support
Beyond the software itself, the Gardner-Webb team credits Concept3D with outstanding customer service.
Their partnership began in 2023 with the Interactive Map and Localist Events and expanded to the full suite with the addition of a 360 Virtual Tour the following year. This growth is a testament to the positive support Gardner-Webb experienced since initial implementation.
“I would absolutely recommend Concept3D. I love the systems, I love how they interact with each other… but also the service that comes with it, the support we get from the team, from implementation throughout, they’re always open to talk to us and I think that makes a huge difference.”
Thea Thompson, Interim Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Impact: A Unified Digital Front Door
Since implementing all three solutions with Concept3D, Gardner-Webb has transformed its digital presence:
- Replaced static, illustrated maps with searchable, interactive navigation
- Centralized a disjointed events calendar with Localist Events
- Layered event functionality for Move-In Day, Family Weekend, Webbstock, and countless other events on campus
- Streamlined virtual experience between the map, tour, and calendar
- Improved engagement from prospective students and families
- Reduced workload on central marketing by empowering departments
“Having all three products working together allows us to present Gardner-Webb as a unified whole. That’s what students and families are looking for: clarity, convenience, and connection,” Thea Thompson said.
Gardner-Webb continues to expand its use of Concept3D’s suite to serve both recruitment and current student engagement.
“Our campus is about connection: between students, faculty, and the community. Concept3D helps us reflect that online in a way we simply couldn’t before.”
Thea Thompson, Interim Vice President of Marketing & Communications
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