Washington State University – Chinook Student Center

The $25.7M WSU Chinook Student Center project involved 88,000 SF of renovation on an occupied, existing campus. Renovations included converting the old student bookstore into a student activities center, combining student-oriented administrative offices with student recreational and social facilities. The center also offers the students and staff a quick-serve restaurant, rock climbing wall, hot yoga, weight training, nap pods, study areas, and meditation rooms. Additional site work included demolition, abatement, clearing, mass excavation, landscape, hardscape, irrigation, natural turf, synthetic turf, asphalt and concrete paving, sidewalks, and courtyard/plaza. The project achieved LEED Silver certification by reusing over 75% of the existing structure, which reduces the project’s carbon footprint. The building significantly reduces indoor water use, lowering its impact on the watershed.

Several elements incorporate WSU branding and school spirit into the project including:

• A sandblasted Cougar emblem in the existing brink veneer was selectively demo’d and was to be relocated above a fireplace. The Cougar head piece was too large for the height of the fireplace so now it is being installed on the curved wall instead of the WSU emblem planned to be painted on it.
• Lyrics to the fight song will be stenciled on the risers of the grand staircase
• A tackable map will cover an interior wall so students can mark their hometowns
• A writeable wall will feature vinyl decals for area code (509)