VANCOUVER, Wash. – With the Sept. 13 grand opening of the Student Services Center and the Firstenburg Student Commons, students at Washington State University Vancouver will have two new facilities to serve them this semester and as the campus continues to grow.
The 11,400-square-foot Firstenburg Student Commons, in the former bookstore building, features a snack bar, multi-use student lounge, student government offices and meeting spaces. The project is a renovation and expansion of the former WSU Vancouver bookstore funded by state appropriations, local funds – including those allocated from Student Activity fees, and a gift from the Firstenburg Family Foundation.
Conceptual design began in 2002 and construction was completed in July of 2007. The building seats 200 for meetings and banquets and is wired for television. Costs for the combined project total $14.626 million.
The 18,000-square-foot, two-story Student Services Center now houses The Bookie bookstore, as well as the new “Cougar Center,” providing personalized one-stop services for students and visitors, Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Cougar Center front desk staff is available to answer questions in person, by phone, and via e-mail about admissions, financial aid, student accounts, registration and more.
