WSU Everett building sets the gold standard for campus design

Washington State University’s Everett Building sets the tone for the brand new campus for the WSU branch. The new campus will expand access to STEM-oriented programs, and the new building pays true homage to this field of study. This is the building that will define the campus. Coupled with Everett Community College across the street, the campus forms an entire educational district where students can pursue all types of higher education.

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The campus is 1.5 hectares. The western edge of the building follows North Broadway, a busy street. On the south side is a wide plaza, a connecting area that busy students pass by on their way to class. On the north side there is an inner courtyard for learning, for events, for reflection and for activities.

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A red reception desk in the lobby of a building.  There are two people behind the desk.  On the left is the entrance to a wooden staircase.

The building includes a four-story atrium known as the Innovation Forum. This area connects two entry points. Inside the building there is also a tiered lecture hall, a media-rich classroom, student union areas and a school laboratory. The building also includes faculty offices, conference rooms, classrooms, student seminar rooms, and engineering laboratories.

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The staircase of the wooden staircase of the building.

A wooden staircase is the highlight of the atrium. It is custom-made and made with glued lamellar stringers. Made from local materials, the staircase pays homage to the Pacific Northwest’s timber industry.

A room where students sit and study, surrounded by large floor-to-ceiling windows.

As for the sustainable properties of the project, the Everett building is LEED Gold certified. In fact, the building’s thermal envelope exceeds the standards of the State Energy Code by 10%. Meanwhile, the windows and blinds can be operated mechanically to ensure natural ventilation. The hydronic underfloor heating uses the heat from the building’s data center, and a photovoltaic system on the roof contributes to the energy supply. There is also a 20,000 gallon cistern that catches rainwater. This system provides 100% of the toilet and urinal flush water needed from September to June and diverts excess water to irrigation.

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Photography © Benjamin Benshneider