PULLMAN, Wash. – The December issue of School Construction News features the Washington State University Student Recreation Center as the facility of the month.
The article titled, “Rec and Effect: A Student-Driven Recreation Center Project Evolves into a Campus Showpiece,” by Morgan Jones, highlights the construction of the center.
Student leaders worked to pass a referendum mandating that students pay a $100 fee each semester to fund the $39 million project. They also researched and found Yost Grube Hall Architects (YGH), based in Portland, Ore., to design the building. The firm has extensive experience building university facilities and working with students. The end product is a 160,000-square-foot center that over 80 percent of the student body used in its first semester.
YGH won an award for outstanding design from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and the Gilbane Building Company won the Gilbane 2001 Builder of the Year Award. The layout maximizes use of natural airflow to cool the building and large windows for day lighting and an illuminated natatorium at night.
School Construction News tracks the development and construction of educational facilities in the United States. The facility of the month is a feature that highlights an exceptional project including design aspects and challenges.
“This is quite an honor given that the editor for the magazine picks the featured project from buildings on campuses all across the nation, private and public, university and colleges, as well as grade schools through high schools,” said Kevin Johnston, aquatics coordinator for University Recreation.
