The significantly expanded home for the Ethnic Student Center, the AS Student Advocacy and Identity Resource Centers, and Multicultural Student Services includes social and study space, a multi-purpose dance studio and cultural event space with kitchen, computer workspace, and program staff offices. The expansion enclosed a former courtyard to create a new entry and central lobby. The renovation completed the student union transformation, gathering the Multicultural Center, Viking Union, Bookstore, Multipurpose Room, and the student radio station under one roof.
Provided significant detailing to connect the two-story vertical steel expansion with the bookstore basement’s existing concrete, steel, and masonry structure. Critical perimeter connections to the highly detailed façade, along with partial removal of the existing bookstore floor to create additional access, provided solutions for this complicated renovation and expansion.
Carefully chose a structural seismic system that accommodated steep topography and could be built into the existing foundation, saving time and money. Buckling restraint braced frames help maintain loads under the new glass façade, reducing stress on the foundation system.
Designed feature stairs that vertically integrate the revitalized Viking Union with the new Multicultural Center and warmly complement other wood elements throughout. The team coordinated with an Oregon-based company to create this unique stairway of prefabricated mass plywood panels with discreet support and imbedded steel connections.
Lettering and imagery adorn interior walls with messaging generated by the student body. Sculptural bronze wraps the building exterior and doubles as a sunshade and a striking architectural piece. This textured, metal façade honors the weaving artistry of local Salish Tribes and celebrates the culturally diverse fabric of Western’s campus.
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