Updated project metadata. The functions of cohesin are central to genome integrity, chromosome organization, and transcription regulation through its prevention of premature sister-chromatid separation and the formation of DNA loops. The loading of cohesin onto chromatin depends on the Scc2-Scc4 complex, however, little is known about how it stimulates the cohesin loading activity. Here we determine the large “hook” structure of Scc2 responsible for catalyzing cohesin loading. We identify key Scc2 surfaces that are crucial for DNA binding and for cohesin loading in vivo. Using previously determined structures and modeling, we derive a pseudo-atomic structure of the full-length Scc2-Scc4 complex. Finally, our crosslinking and electron microscopy analyses reveal that Scc2-Scc4 utilizes its modular structure to make multiple contacts with a folded cohesin at an interface created by the cohesin head-hinge interaction.