WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING AND FACILITIES
AT THE BELLINGHAM WATERFRONT
The Western Washington University Center for Community Engagement and Innovation
Western Washington University is engaged in planning to extend its main campus to the
Bellingham waterfront. Western plans to create a programmatic and physical presence at the
waterfront that enables it to carry out its mission and strategic plan by extending and enhancing
University educational and programming outreach, connections and activities to and with the
community and beyond. It is Western’s goal to serve its communities through partnerships,
while also working with other local higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, and
with the private sector in vital areas of cultural, economic, environmental, international,
technological, and societal innovation and sustainability.
The following mission statement and guiding principles were developed by the 2014 WWU
Waterfront Planning Committee to guide its work:
Mission Statement
Leverage the creativity and expertise of Western and its partners to empower and sustain local,
regional, and global innovation for the well-being of individuals and communities.
Guiding Principles to Inform our Work:
Nurture collaboration
Increase access
Ignite innovation
Embrace community
Seek solutions
Imagine possibilities
Promote well-being
Seize opportunities
Model sustainability
Cultivate leadership
Moving Forward
The culture at Western has begun a movement to become more cross-disciplinary in program
development. That approach, one which encourages university groups to pursue exploration of
new cross-disciplinary programming and partnership opportunities, is a key component to
planning for programming at the WWU waterfront facility.
The planning committee feels a critically important first step is to develop guidelines for the
establishment of functions in the new facility, as opposed to identifying specific academic
programs that should be relocated.
The Waterfront Facility could enhance the role and mission of the university by:
 Providing appropriate space for the delivery of applied educational experiences for
students of all ages both through its academic programs and Extended Education’s
offerings;
 Creating a “destination point” that increases visibility, access and service to a wide
community from across the city, state, nation and world;
 Meeting the educational and professional needs of the state by supporting expanded
delivery modes to reach additional enrollment;
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Offering the possibility of generating new revenue streams that support Western as a
publicly-purposed university;
Facilitating the delivery of innovative approaches to learning through:
- Hybrid and collaborative activities
- Evening and weekend instruction
- Guest speakers
- Presentation and exhibit space
- Colloquia/conferences
- Specialized instruction
- Video-conferencing
- Break-out sessions
Providing expanded opportunities for specialized, interdisciplinary and non-traditional
learning that enhance community connection and community service by attracting a
wider reach of people with diverse interests
Continuing Professional Credentialing to support professional growth and advancement
of community and regional members and alumni.
Guidelines for determining space needs
 Promote and enhance Western’s reputation through the creation of a facility that serves as
a “destination point” for people from the community, region, state, nation and world.
 Enhance the quality of a Western education through collaboration and in doing so to
create an environment that fosters constant learning.
 Strengthen community relations and community capacity by shared use of resources
o Provide a venue for easier access to WWU resources.
o Provide an enhanced stakeholder experience with easy access.
o Provide a venue that promotes collaboration with other higher education
institutions and other community partners.
 Creates space and access that does not currently exist at Western’s main campus
 Configure space for both critical use and unique use.
 Promote relationships with off-campus partners.
 Generates foot traffic.
Space Use Qualifications
Space design should emphasize maximizing a diverse accommodation of users and uses. The
WWU Center for Community Engagement and Innovation (CCEI) should be open to all WWU
programs and those of its partners that are “community engaged”. The use of space can be
adapted to meet multiple and changing needs of various stakeholders.
Facility Standards
With Western’s outstanding reputation as a leader in sustainability, it is recommended that the
facility be designed and constructed to serve as a destination point because of its status as a
Platinum LEED certified facility or possibly as a “living building.” In terms of LEED standards,
if Platinum cannot be achieved, then Gold LEED designation should be the minimum standard.
The committee had extensive discussion about the concept of a “living building” as opposed to
striving for LEED designation and ultimately decided to encourage the project developer to work
with the University in deciding the best choice for the project.
It is also recommended that the design of the building will be unique, distinctive, and innovative
to capitalize on the beauty of the natural surroundings of the area (bay, islands, Mt. Baker) and to
further distinguish it as a destination point in our state, national and for the world.
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Recommendations for The WWU Community Center for Engagement and Innovation
(CCEI)
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Elements of Space Design for the CCEI
o A medium sized (150 people) “auditorium” for recital performances, presentations,
conference talks and lectures.
o “Engagement spaces”: flexible hands-on multiple working studio spaces of various
sizes for collaborative innovation, incubator related projects, seminars, discussion,
and other non-traditional uses fostering collaborative creativity.
o A “conference hall” space to host conferences, receptions, exhibits and special events.
The space would need to be sub-divided for breakout space or for smaller meeting
needs.
o All three defined spaces should be equipped with state-of-the-art telecom/video
facilities for outreach beyond local community.
o Offices for management of the facility
o Offices for University/Community related partners
o Platinum LEED certified facility
o Adequate parking (free or low cost)
o State-of-the-art facility
o A technology intensive environment
o Access to the Libraries’ electronic scholarly resources
o Meeting spaces need to meet the International Association of Conference Centers
(IACC) Standards (Link)
Recital Hall/Auditorium Space
This would be a large room with seating for approximately 150 people. Seating would be
portable fixed theatre style seating for multiple forms of presentations, interactive discussion,
recitals, and small performances. To keep the space as multi-purposed as possible, seating would
be fold-back in nature (bleachers) or lifted to the ceiling. The space would be of the highest
quality acoustically and offer projection technology, specialized lighting, and projection screen
with a dedicated sound box. Space should also be available in the wings off the front of the
room to accommodate various needs. In addition, its functionality could be maximized by having
direct connection to the interior welcoming space/lobby and/or Meeting Hall.
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Potential Uses: music recitals, small group ensembles, lectures, presentations, entertainment
space for conferences.
Engagement Spaces
These flexible areas would be designed to host multiple types of activities, including classroom
instruction, innovation labs, incubators, learning commons for collaborative studies, community
research, and even events. The spaces would foster and support teams that potentially come from
multiple disciplines, physical and virtual catalyst where inquiry, imagination, discovery, and
creativity come alive and become central to growth — personal, academic, social and cultural.
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These spaces would have flexible design with flexible equipment and instructional services in
open areas that are somewhat transparent to offer a concept “looking in on innovation,
experimentation, and learning.” Equipment in these areas, especially tables and whiteboards,
would be on wheels and configurable by teams as they need it. Tables and whiteboards would be
mobile to create mini collaboration spaces, working studios or lecture spaces. The spaces would
have a shared technology infrastructure and would possibly also have tools, equipment, maker
spaces, and/or publishing services available for borrowing or use.
The Impact HUB in Seattle is one of numerous examples of engagement space. They describe
their space as “A co-working space, an event venue, and innovation lab for inspiring people.”
Another is the FabLab in Tacoma.
Potential Uses: Innovation brainstorming, business incubator, classes, service learning
collaboration, informal private sector meeting space, people space for collaboration.
Conference Hall Space
This type of multi-purpose space is severely lacking on the Western campus and would provide a
venue for large and small conferences, special events, visual arts displays, workshops, and
general meeting space. One of the most significant challenges Western has faced for decades is
the ability to attract and host conferences and meetings which bring together scholars, students
and community persons. Campus facilities, ranging from the Viking Union to academic
buildings, are small in nature and in high demand just to meet day-to-day operational needs. In
addition, Western’s parking facilities are limited in size, not readily accessible to existing
meeting space, and in high use throughout the day and evening.
The facility should offer the following:
 Theatre seating on the floor for up to 1,200 people, or
 Conference style table seating up to 700
 Dividable into smaller meeting space with sound proof walls
 Fully mediated
 Designed for maximum view of waterfront –(e.g. Glass doors)
 Ability to open glass doors to expand event onto exterior space
 Meeting/Seminar rooms
o 10-15 additional rooms for a variety of uses (e.g. classes, workshops, seminars,
meetings)
o Fully mediated
o Breakout venues to seat 10-60
o Teleconference Room
o Collaboratory/Computer Lab/Business Center
1. Production Studio
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Potential Uses: conferences, presentations, banquets, trade shows
o Examples: Salish Sea Conference (1,300), BALLE National Conference (7501,000), Washington State PTA (1,200), state and regional teacher conferences
(1,000).
Interior space (Pre-function)
 Multi-use open space
o Registration/Reception area
o Small Food service areas
 Coffee Shop, etc.
Office Space
In keeping with the vision for the facilities, offices should be larger open spaces with additional
small fixed spaces available for private consultation. A philosophy of promoting sharing of staff
among program entities should be encouraged via the physical design of the space and the use
of mobile furnishings in the open office spaces. Team work space would also be an asset. The
amount of fixed and flexible office space will be driven by decisions on what program(s) will be
located in the CCEI.
Dedicated workroom space would also be needed and equipped with high level support
technology in the form of software and hardware and printing (3D printer).
It is also noted that office space could provide an excellent collaboration with the private sector,
other higher education institutions, and non-governmental organizations. It may be that the other
spaces in the facility will provide incentive for other partners to want to locate in the facility and
thus increase the need for additional office spaces.
Food service/kitchen facilities
 Warming kitchen for caterer
On-site storage
Because of the multi-purpose focused use of these spaces, it will be critical to have ample
storage space available on-site
Outdoor Engagement Space
To promote collaboration and personal interaction in both operational and conferencing settings,
exterior patios, balconies, and or a covered terrace space (e.g. glass ceiling, retractable awning)
would be a component of the facility.
Informational Support Resources of CCEI type venues
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http://www.woodsbagot.com/en/Documents/Public_Research/120123_05Evidence.pdf
Facility attachments (click on the links below for more details)
o Oregon State University CH2M Hill Alumni Center/LaSells Stewart Center Floor
plan (co-located)
o Clemson University Conference Center Floor Plan
o Spokane Valley Center Place Floor Plan
o Joseph B. Martin Conference Center (Floor plan and interior space use ideas)
o Georgia Center for Continuing Education (Premier Continuing Education Center
in Athens Georgia)
 Floorplan
o Bell Harbor International Conference Center, Seattle – Only IACC approved site
in WA State
Western at the Waterfront: A Three Phased Approach
Phase I – The WWU Technology Development Center
Western Washington University already serves is an anchor on the Bellingham waterfront in the
form of the Technology Development Center which is part of the Technology Development
Zone, a State and Federally funded initiative in Washington State. The facility, which is shared
with partner Bellingham Technical College, was dedicated in the fall of 2009 and is now home to
a research arm of the College of Sciences and Technology.
Phase II – The WWU Center for Community Engagement and Innovation
In Phase 2 WWU will be leasing space from a developer in the initial 10.8 acre development at
the north end of the waterfront property. This facility will be used as the initial WWU Center
for Community Engagement and Innovation.
Phase III – WWU and the Green Economy
The WWU Center for Community Engagement and Innovation will become a permanent facility
in Phase 3 when Western and Western Crossing Development Corp. engage in the construction
of a new building in the Institutional Mixed Use area. This area is located directly south of the
initial 10.8 acre development and is 6 acres in size.
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