Campus update: How is the the Western Welcome Center construction progressing

WWU News

On This Page

• WWU Stories
• News Releases and Announcements
• WWU in the News
• Campus News and Information

Campus update: How is the the Western Welcome Center construction progressing?

October 27, 2026

Construction for the Western Welcome Center, located at the south end of the academic core of campus, remains on schedule after excellent progress made through the summer and into the fall. Structural steel installation was completed on Sept. 28, and exterior wall framing has begun. Concrete slabs have been poured on all levels.

Once wall framing is complete, the team will begin roofing and installing doors and windows to enclose the structure. Construction noise will diminish when the team shifts to interior work in early 2027.

"The project team is always looking for ways to minimize disruption. We would like to thank students, faculty and staff for their patience and willingness to work through logistical challenges created by the construction," said Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs Joyce Lopes.

The original concept for the Western Welcome Center grew out of conversations on campus with students, student services providers, and other stakeholders about ways to ease some of the challenges that keep students from enrolling or lead them to leave Western without graduating.

WWU Provost Brad Johnson said the importance of the building in a competitive climate for recruiting and retaining students could not be overstated.

"Recruitment of new students and the retention of current students are crucial to Western's success. We are focused on achieving our enrollment goals and supporting students on their academic journey by advocating for additional state funding, keeping tuition and fees as low as possible, and providing spaces for students to collaborate and study," Johnson said. "Western has long needed a welcoming 'front door' to the campus, and WWU is the only 4-year public institution in the state without one of these facilities."

By clearly marking the arrival point and directing visitors to a centralized information source, the welcome center will assist with recruitment and help prospective students connect to educational resources. These centers have proven effective in supporting recruitment and retention, delivering a range of services, and creating a social hub where students can connect and interact.

Planning began in 2020 as part of the 2021-23 Capital Budget Request process. Capital funds, which are typically used for construction and renovation of long-term assets like buildings and utility infrastructure, are separate from operating funds, which pay for day-to-day operations. A student survey early in the process and student representation in planning groups helped identify students' strongest priorities for a new welcome and student center and keep teams focused on student needs and experience.

The offices of Admissions, Orientation and Transition, and the Academic Advising and Career Readiness Office will be the main tenants. Since students who use advising services are more likely to thrive and graduate, the project was conceived to make key services more visible and easier to access. Combining these services with the welcome center, a café, covered outdoor seating, a food pantry, and other informal gathering spaces will bring together prospective and current students in both structured and casual settings to help them visualize life and success at Western.

The Western Welcome Center will be a true gathering place, connecting prospective and current students with educational and advising resources and with each other. The building is scheduled to open in the fall of 2027.