Construction of the $54 million Western Welcome Center at Western Washington University, which is located at the south end of the academic core of campus, began this spring.

The design-build team for the Western Welcome Center is BNBuilders + Miller Hull Partnership. The center is expected to open in the fall of 2027.

The 29,000-sq.-ft. building will serve as a welcoming front door for Western and a hub for student services that support access, belonging and success. A new welcome center will provide a meeting place for campus tours, interactive displays to learn about Western, and the opportunity to meet with current students.

• Aggregate pier installation is now complete, and noise levels should return to previous levels.

• Safety fencing went up during spring break, enclosing Flag Plaza and parking lot 19G, both of which will remain closed for the duration of construction.

• Throughout the summer, the team will focus on ground improvement, laying the foundation and beginning structural work.

The presence of key student services in the same building will help prospective students and their families envision their educational path and learn about the people and services readily available to support them along the way.

It will also create more connection with, access to, and visibility for support services for current students. In accordance with Western's adoption of the Okanagan Charter, all aspects of the center emphasize and support health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

The center will directly support the university's values of access, excellence, and long-term impact in Washington state and beyond.

With careful attention to aesthetics, materials, light, and functionality, the spaces are designed to be welcoming, accessible, and easy to navigate for students from all backgrounds and experiences. Collaboration, work, and learning areas will promote student and faculty interaction and offer opportunities for the experiential learning that is a hallmark of the Western education.

By offering connection to needed services in a single, highly visible location, the center will also support Western's contribution to realizing Washington State's educational goals and help make higher education more accessible, especially for traditionally underrepresented students. Students will find the support and community they need to earn their degree and achieve their career and life goals. ♣