Western Washington University
04/03/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/03/2026 12:36
South Campus Construction Update: April 3
WWU News
South Campus Construction Update: April 3
April 3, 2026
Now that construction has begun on the Student Development and Success Center, we have more details to share about expected impacts from the project. Construction fencing is up, and the design-build team has started ground preparation. To the east of the fencing for the main project, Western's outdoor maintenance team is building a graded path that will bypass the stairs on the southeast corner of Flag Plaza and allow direct ADA access from College Way to the academic buildings on the east side of the project. We expect the new path to be ready for use by the end of April.
As ground preparation continues, vegetation within the construction zone, including the cherry trees planted following the completion of the Academic Instructional Center in 2007, will need to be removed. We regret the need to remove these trees but have plans for replacing them once construction is finished. The plan includes matching the cherry trees along the walkway to the north heading toward the stairs between Parks and Environmental Studies. This will create a long flower corridor through south campus that should be fully established within 3-5 years. We expect tree removal to begin around April10, and trees outside the construction zone will be undisturbed.
The sidewalk on the north side of College Way will be closed throughout construction. Please use the sidewalk on the south side of the road near the parking lots. Also, use caution when approaching the intersection of West College Way and Bill McDonald Drive, whether using a vehicle or walking. Increased pedestrian and truck traffic in the area will make the area more difficult to navigate. Finally, we will continue to provide updates as needed, and we greatly appreciate your patience as construction continues. The center is expected to welcome students beginning in the fall of 2027.
Western Washington University published this content on April 03, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 03, 2026 at 18:36 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]