By Steve Nakata, student affairs
PULLMAN, Wash. – Design and construction plans for a cultural center at Washington State University will be presented 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, in the CUB Butch’s Den, room L60.
Groundbreaking for the 16,000-square-foot building, near the intersection of NE Stadium Way and SE Spokane Street, is planned for spring with completion by summer 2017. The center will house the diversity education program. The Office of Multicultural Student Services will remain in the CUB.
The presentation will be led by representatives of the project steering committee and architectural firms. The interim president will speak.
“Input from WSU faculty, staff and students was incorporated into the project,” said Kelly Keane, WSU capital facilities services. “Internal, external and inspirational images will be shared, in addition to a scale model of the facility.”
The steering committee established a clear vision for the building as an iconic symbol and gateway to campus. It is intended to encourage people of intersectional identities to create, connect, collaborate and share a manifestation of “Cougar culture.”
Lucila Loera, steering committee member and associate vice president for the Office of Access, Equity and Achievement, said the center will support the advancement of new and returning students and families, while also serving cultural programming, social justice outreach and community engagement.
“Not only is the building a lens of how to review the past, it also signals to WSU students how they can leverage their education to create dynamic change for a promising future,” she said.
Others on the project steering committee are J. Manuel Acevedo, director of the Office of Multicultural Student Services; Barbara Aston, director and special assistant to the provost/tribal liaison; Jeff Guillory, director of diversity education; and Paula Groves-Price, associate dean for diversity and international programs in the College of Education.
Contacts:
Lucila Loera, WSU Office for Access, Equity & Achievement, 509-335-3458, lucila@wsu.edu
Steve Nakata, WSU Student Affairs marketing and communication, 509-335-1774, nakata@wsu.edu
