2018 FILE PHOTO — Members of the public and WSU Vancouver officials discussed proposed updates to the university’s campus master plan during an open house.
Washington State University Vancouver is looking to update its campus master plan for the first time in more than a decade with possibilities of a new fitness center, a student union, and residential undergraduate housing.
Those possibilities were some of what was discussed in the second of three open houses put on by the university to inform the public and gather comment as it moves forward.
Leading the presentation were Nolan Lienhart and Paddy Tillett of ZGF, an architectural firm working for the university on the project.
Lienhart said that in the time since the last update made in 2007, new needs for the campus have emerged which was expected, with this new update looking to address those new requirements.
The process of updating the master plan began in January with the first open house on Feb. 5. Lienhart gave a recap of that open house where 50 to 60 people were estimated to attend, the “vast majority” of those providing comment being frequent visitors to the campus, student, faculty or otherwise.
Several of the comments from the previous open house were highlighted, including maintaining open communications and paying attention to the impact the campus has on surrounding residences. Tillett noted there was a good deal of comment regarding ways in which the university and the community can work more cooperatively in the future.
A few comments focused on better food service as well as student housing, two things slated to be addressed in this plan update.
Plans looked at during the open house all featured a 300-person residence hall, a student union/dining services building and a new or updated fitness center. The main difference between the plans would be where those new developments were located.
“Option A” would have the buildings and an informal field on the northeast side of the existing campus. The two proposals under “Option B” had the new buildings going in on the opposite side of the campus from Option A and would expand the current fitness facilities instead of building a new building. A new playing field would be constructed as well, with one plan having it to the southwest of the campus’ Mount St. Helens viewing axis while the other would be to the east.
The third variant of Option B would have the student union and food services building aligned along the east-west Mount Hood view corridor as opposed to the Mount St. Helens axis.
Finally, the proposed layouts in Option C would have the new buildings aligned along the Mount Hood corridor, with the residence hall and informal field to the east of existing campus buildings. A variant would move the planned student union along the Mount St. Helens corridor. In both cases the fitness center would be expanded, not a new facility built.
Following the open house, those working on the master plan would whittle the possibilities down to one based on comment received, with a draft master plan to be unveiled during a third open house from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 23 at the Dengerink Administration Building.
Digital copies of exhibits from the open houses can be found at admin.vancouver.wsu.edu/capital-planning-and-development/master-plan. Those who wish to submit public comment may do so at events.vancouver.wsu.edu/master-plan-public-comment-form.
