Just One Year Old, Central's Student Union and Recreation Center Wins Two National Awards

April 23, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - One year ago doors to Central Washington University's Student Union and Recreation Center officially opened. The first facility of its kind on a university campus, the SURC provides a large variety of amenities and services to the entire campus community and has quickly become the heart of campus for Central students, staff and faculty.

"The Student Union and Recreation Center has been totally embraced by our campus community, as well as our local and state communities," says Charlotte Tullos, vice president, student affairs and enrollment management at CWU. "It has exceeded all of our expectations in terms of how many people use the building. It's a vibrant and exciting place to be and does wonders for our university community."

This past year has been filled with excitement and recognition for the SURC. In March, CWU was honored along with Seattle architect firm Ambia with the 2007 Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Facility Design Award of Excellence at the ACUI annual conference for Central's Student Union and Recreation Center. The Recreation Center also received some recognition-an Outstanding Sports Facility Award at the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) annual conference in April.

"These awards are the culmination of twelve years of effort supported by our university's students, staff and administration. They represent carefully considered work by passionate people who never lost sight of their vision," explains John Drinkwater, senior director, campus life and student facility development at CWU. "As we share this honor, it's understood that it belongs to a community which holds as its most significant tenet student development and belonging."

The ACUI Facility Design Award recognizes excellence in the design of student-centered facilities that support campus community building and student learning. Entries, submitted by architect firms, are judged on the basis of the facilities' appearance, the process used to arrive at the design, and how the new or renovated facility impacts the campus.

The Recreation Center's Outstanding Sports Facility Award honors the creative, innovative designs of new, renovated or expanded collegiate recreational facilities. Each winner is considered a standard or model by which other collegiate recreational facilities should be measured, and from which others can benefit. Judges evaluate each facility for architectural design, functionality and how well it meets its intended purpose.

Redefining campus culture, Central's 228,000 sq. ft., $58 million Student Union and Recreation Center serves as a gateway to the university. The centerpiece of the SURC, an interior pedestrian mall, provides direct visual connectivity between many of the building's uses. The facility truly has something for everyone. It houses a 1,000-seat ballroom, 345-seat theater, wireless internet, market-style dining, the Wildcat Shop, meeting and conference rooms, 50-foot climbing wall, four basketball courts, elevated jogging track and a variety of fitness areas, and it's linked to residence halls, academic buildings and major parking areas.

Join us for some treats, live music in the pit and comedy clips in the theatre on Tuesday, April 24 in the SURC from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as we celebrate the first anniversary of this remarkable and award winning addition to campus.