CWU to unveil new arts and humanities-focused building on October 2

Central Washington University’s newest building marvel will be officially unveiled to the public on Friday, October 2, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the Ellensburg campus.

Lawmakers, donors, community partners, and CWU community members will come together from 2-3 p.m. to celebrate the opening of the North Academic Commons (NAC), located along East Dean Nicholson Boulevard. The program will be followed by self-guided tours of the building beginning at 3 p.m.

Speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony will include CWU President Jim Wohlpart, members of the Capital Planning and Projects team, state lawmakers, representatives from the Yakama Nation, and the artist who created the signature pieces displayed throughout the facility.

With its focus on arts and humanities programming, the NAC is expected to be a big draw for prospective students in the years to come.

“We can’t wait for CWU faculty, staff, and students to begin experiencing this beautiful, one-of-a-kind building that will be a focal point of recruiting and retention,” said Director of Capital Planning and Projects Delano Palmer, who led the NAC project alongside Construction Manager Joe Chanes. “We are very proud of what we have accomplished on behalf of the entire CWU community, and we look forward to this building becoming a centerpiece on our campus for decades to come.”

The 104,200-square-foot structure, adjacent to Brooks Library, has been occupied by faculty and staff since early August and will be hosting classes when the fall quarter begins next week.

The departments occupying the NAC include History, Political Science, Law and Justice, Sociology, English, Philosophy and Comparative Religions, World Languages and Cultures, and the College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) Dean’s Office.

CAH Dean Dr. Chris Redfearn shared his appreciation to Washington lawmakers and the CWU administration for placing a renewed focus on arts and humanities programming, which has experienced cuts nationwide despite increasing public interest in subjects like history, sociology, English and philosophy.

“The North Academic Commons sends a powerful message about the value and future of the arts and humanities at Central,” he said. “With this new building, CWU is making a meaningful investment in the programs, faculty, and students who develop the critical thinking, communication, creativity, and cultural understanding our graduates need to better understand their communities and the world around them.”

Construction of the NAC began in early 2023 with the demolition of the Language and Literature Building, adjacent to Brooks Library.

The first-of-its-kind project in Washington was funded by the state Legislature in 2023 and 2024, and features a Geo Eco Plant that will heat and cool the structure by harnessing the renewable heat emitted from the Ellensburg Aquifer directly underneath campus.

Among the more notable features in the NAC is a 240-seat TED Talks-style auditorium, a mock courtroom, cross-laminated timber beams supplied by Yakama Nation Forest Products, a full array of solar panels mounted on the roof, and two large skylights and ceiling-to-floor window panels to maximize the presence of natural light.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold facility, with a total cost of $108 million, was designed by the architecture team of NAC/Opsis and built by Garco Construction. 

At the heart of the NAC is a renewed commitment to student success, with spaces designed to bring a sense of both community and academic support closer to where learning happens.

One of those spaces, the Ben and Nancy Remak College of Arts and Humanities Advising Center, carries the name of two longtime CWU supporters whose years of giving have helped shape opportunities for students across campus.

Ben ('79) is a CWU Foundation Board member who earned his law and justice degree at Central. Nancy, a University of Washington history major who has spent decades serving on advisory boards in higher education and healthcare, currently sits on the CWU College of Arts and Humanities Advisory Board.

The naming of the advising center is one way of recognizing a pledge by Ben and Nancy to the CWU Futures Campaign, which supports students across the institution. The Remaks have supported scholarships, athletics, and the Wildcat Pantry for many years.

Their cumulative generosity reflects what's possible when Wildcats invest in the next generation, and that now shapes the advising space bearing their name.

“The Remaks have spent years investing in the people and programs that make Central special,” Redfearn said. “Their gift in the CAH Advising Center is a lasting reflection of their generosity and their belief in supporting students today and creating opportunities for those students in the future.”