PULLMAN, Wash. – With the opening of Washington State University’s Chinook Student Center just weeks away, memberships that will allow access to the facility are now available for purchase.
Faculty, staff, graduate and professional students, as well as WSU Alumni Association members, can view membership options and make purchases at chinook.wsu.edu/memberships
Nick Prante, assistant director of facilities for University Recreation, said the Chinook is a unique building that can be thought of as a hybrid Student Recreation Center (SRC) and Compton Union Building (CUB) all in the same place.
Among some of the building’s features are two cardio areas, a weight room, locker rooms including one for all genders, a crossfit training room and three fitness rooms. Each fitness room has a different type of floor to accommodate a wide variety of activities ranging from yoga at 90 degrees, pink gloves boxing and high intensity interval training (HIIT) spin with heart rate technology.
“Not only will it be a state-of-the-art exercise facility, the Chinook will also provide lots of places for people to meet, study, and socialize,” Prante said.
It will include space for leisure games, a couple of saunas, music practice rooms, small study or meeting rooms and a napping area—things not found in many other places on campus.
Freshëns Fresh Food Studio will open on the main floor where people can purchase crepes, salads, rice bowls, as well as trendy options like flatbreads and mac and cheese bowls. A variety of frozen yogurt and blended smoothie products will also be available. Freshëns is the only space that will be accessible to everyone regardless of their membership status.
A familiar Location
The Chinook Student Center is located where the campus bookstore, The Bookie, operated for many years, on the north end of campus next to Kimbrough Hall. The building has been sitting vacant since the store moved its operations to the CUB in 2008.
Beginning in 2014 a feasibility study was conducted by an outside agency and the Chinook Planning Committee formed consisting of student leaders and WSU administrators. The committee surveyed students and determined the kind of space and amenities they would like to see on campus. In March of last year, undergraduate students voted to increase student fees to generate the $3.3-million per year to cover the renovation cost. Construction work began in January 2015.
“Located in the heart of campus, the Chinook will be a very convenient place for people to exercise and grab a snack before class or during the noon hour,” said Prante.
WSU faculty and staff can purchase a Chinook annual membership that will expire on March 1, 2018, or a semester membership that will expire on May 15, 2017. As construction nears completion, members can utilize the various parts of the Chinook as they become available throughout January and February. In the meantime, Chinook members can utilize the SRC to jump start their New Year’s fitness goals until March 1, 2017.
SRC members can contact the membership services team to bundle their current SRC membership with a new Chinook Student Center membership at a discounted and prorated price.
Graduate and professional students can purchase semester memberships at the student rate of $98. Special pricing is also available for WSU Alumni Association members, partners and spouses. Day passes will be available for $8, or current members can buy a guest pass for their friends for $5. Visit chinook.wsu.edu/memberships for all membership options and pricing.
Media contacts:
Nick Prante, Assistant Director for Facilities, University Recreation, 509-335-5753, nprante@wsu.edu
Steve Nakata, Marketing & Communications, Administrative Services, 509-335-1774, nakata@wsu.edu