With shovels in hand, prominent figures from WSU Pullman joined state politicians and local leaders on Nov. 18 to ceremoniously commence the pending construction of WSU Vancouver’s new Sciences Building.
The university’s groundbreaking event, held next to the Engineering and Computer Science Building, attracted groups of students, staff and faculty. In attendance, WSU Vancouver’s chancellor, Mel Netzhammer, WSU Pullman’s president, Kirk Schulz, members of the WSU Board of Regents and state legislative representatives all gathered with silver shovels to pose for photos in celebration of the new building’s construction.
The anticipated Sciences Building will offer additional laboratory and classroom space to accommodate a rapidly growing population of students pursuing STEM degrees. The building is expected to open by fall of 2023, according to Netzhammer.
“What we need more than ever is the communities, that we all serve in various ways, to be connected to science, to learning and to what we do in buildings like this building. It was my great honor to support this effort.” – Rep. Sharon Wylie
“We have been waiting so long for this building within so many legislative sessions with so many friends and supporters helping us get to this point today,” Netzhammer said. “The Sciences Building [will be] an instructional and research facility that will provide cutting edge learning opportunities in STEM disciplines.”
To contract the building’s construction, WSU has partnered with architecture service, SRG Partnership, and builder Andersen Construction, to create the plans for its three-story, 60,000 square-foot structure. According to the university’s Sciences Building planning and development website, the new building is designed to “celebrate the beauty of this place, [WSU Vancouver], forge an engine of opportunity, work for everyone, connect and learn, adapt and foster connection.”
Additionally, described by the website, its structure will blend with the surrounding buildings on campus, and merge with nature through the use of non-toxic materials and a sleek, environmentally-interpretive design. On the inside, it will host spaces with comfortable seating, intended for public gatherings and private study groups.
Providing the financial logistics, Netzhammer said WSU was awarded $52.6 million as part of the state’s capital budget for construction of the new Sciences Building. In addition to these funds, the university fundraised $10 million to construct a new greenhouse and purchase equipment for various research programs. The building is expected to hold additional lab space, student workspaces and offer sponsorships of basic, clinical and applied health programs.
Schulz said the establishment of the new building was nearly a six-year-long journey. Working with the Washington State Legislature, he had planned the project on behalf of WSU Vancouver, to ensure its effectiveness for students enrolled in Southwest Washington’s higher education programs.
“I get to work with our legislative colleagues throughout the state on building projects and investments and new degree programs, so that we are doing what we can to make sure Washington is a state with a fantastic workforce…. [The building] will make a big difference to our local economy,” Schulz said.
Two instrumental figures in the funding decisions for this project were members from the Washington State Legislature, Rep. Sharon Wylie and Sen. David Frockt. Specifically, Wylie was involved with the capital budget to support the new building’s construction, and said this type of project is a critical investment for the futures of career-focused STEM students.
“What we need more than ever is the communities, that we all serve in various ways, to be connected to science, to learning and to what we do in buildings like this building. It was my great honor to support this effort,” Wylie said.
In an effort to increase access to education opportunities, Frockt said the Washington College Promise, a program that supports funding for higher education, has successfully encouraged lawmakers to prioritize higher investments for community colleges and universities across the nation.
“I’m excited that this place has developed into a beautiful, bustling place with great education for people. The new Sciences Building represents very simply, our future.… We are living in a new age of science, a new age of discovery,” Frockt said.
Additionally, Roben White, Cheyenne and Lakota descendant and member of the Native American Community Advisory Board, encouraged the WSU Vancouver community to use this new building as an opportunity to honor the Native land on which WSU Vancouver now occupies. With a feather in hand, he declared sentiments at the building’s groundbreaking by wishing for good intentions toward the land, and the Indigenous peoples who had once resided there.
“I appreciate having a land acknowledgment, but it’s my duty also to take a few seconds and make everybody realize that this university was created by Indian land being given, taken, by the Natives and given to these universities to make that happen,” White said. “I hope that the university continues to or starts to work with tribes in talking about what this means in curriculum and hiring Native people. . . .Please help us bring this building into the world in a good way, that it does good things for people.”
Armando Antonino, president of the Associated Students of WSU Vancouver, had represented the student body at the event. After gathering input from fellow students about their opinions on its expected construction, Antonino said many are looking forward to seeing the new building on campus.
“Everyone had the same reaction, they lit up, they were so excited about a new building on our campus,” Antonino said. “They appreciated the sustainability and environmental thought that went behind the building. . . they were so excited to have a new space to collaborate, to learn, to grow.”
At the end of the ceremony, Netzhammer closed the event, declaring a historical moment of architectural innovation for the university. The WSU Vancouver community will soon see construction begin on the new Sciences Building before its official opening in less than two years.
Olivia is a senior studying English at WSU Vancouver.