CWU builds statewide profile with unveiling of North Academic Commons

It was a near-perfect day for the grand opening of Central Washington University’s newest building, the North Academic Commons (NAC). And with nearly 300 guests from across the university and the state gathering on the Ellensburg campus, the October 2 ribbon-cutting ceremony did not disappoint.

CWU President Jim Wohlpart delivered a series of opening remarks and was followed by a lineup of eight speakers, who joined together to celebrate the official unveiling of the 104,200-square-foot architectural masterpiece along East Dean Nicholson Boulevard.

Wohlpart began by thanking the many CWU partners involved in the multi-year building project — including the Washington Legislature, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, MW Engineers, NAC Architecture, Opsis Architecture, and donors Ben and Nancy Remak — as well as the CWU Capital Planning and Projects team, led by Director Delano Palmer and Project Manager Joe Chanes.

“Their leadership has produced one of the most spectacular buildings on any campus in the state of Washington, one that will achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification,” Wohlpart said of the $108 million facility funded by the Legislature in 2023-24.

Among the special guests in attendance were state Representative and CWU alumnus Alex Ybarra, state Senator Mark Schoesler, state Representative Mari Leavitt, Yakama Nation Tribal Councilman Christopher Wallahee, MW Engineers Principal Anthony Schoen, and artist RYAN! Feddersen, who created the tribal-inspired artwork that appears throughout the NAC.

CWU officials and guests — including state lawmakers Alex Ybarra (center left), Mark Schoesler, and Mari Leavitt — cut the ceremonial ribbon at the NAC on October 2.

The president also shared his appreciation with current and former state lawmakers for investing so heavily in arts, humanities, and social sciences programming, which has experienced significant cutbacks in recent years at higher education institutions nationwide.

“In many states, the humanities and social sciences are under attack,” Wohlpart said. “Here in Washington, we recognize the rich value that these disciplines bring to the learning and growth of our students. With this building, we celebrate and validate their teaching and scholarship, honoring the transformative nature of their work. They change the lives of our students, their families, and their communities.”

The CAH departments occupying the university’s new flagship facility are History, English, Philosophy and Comparative Religions, and World Languages and Cultures, along with the CAH Dean’s Office. Joining them are three departments from the College of the Sciences: Political Science, Law and Justice, and Sociology.

Construction of the NAC — located next to Brooks Library — began in early 2023 with the demolition of the Language and Literature Building. The first-of-its-kind project in Washington features a GeoEco Plant across the street that will heat and cool the structure by harnessing the stable temperatures in 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 Capital Planning and Projects team is overjoyed with its landmark accomplishment, and they can’t wait to show it off to current and prospective students.

“This flagship facility is the pinnacle of evolving campus design and construction geared towards student engagement, recruitment, and retention,” Palmer said, pointing to the regional- and academic-inspired art displays created by Feddersen, the assorted student collaboration spaces, the innovative use of geothermal technology, and an abundance of natural light.

He also touted the locally sourced wood from Yakama Nation Forest Products that appears throughout atrium, and the Tribal Knowledge and Gathering Place known as N’chelohan, which was created in tribute to CWU’s growing partnership with Northwest tribes, including the Yakama Nation.

“The NAC fully submerges students in an environment dedicated to enriching the collegiate experience, and we are so proud of the newest addition of our beautiful Ellensburg campus,” Palmer said.

One of the featured guests at the October 2 ceremony was Yakama Nation Tribal Councilman Christopher Wallahee. He was joined by a large group of tribal representatives, who have been vocal about their appreciation to CWU — specifically Wohlpart and Associate Vice President of Tribal Relations Zoё Higheagle Strong — for including them in the planning and development of the NAC.

“Today, we celebrate not only the opening of this beautiful facility, but also the relationships, respect, and cooperation that made it possible,” Wallahee said. “We look forward to continuing this partnership and the opportunities it will create in the years ahead.”

He highlighted a memorandum of understanding signed last spring by the Yakama Nation and CWU, which represents a collaborative effort to create opportunities for students, strengthen cultural connections, and build a foundation for future generations.

Wallahee and his colleagues couldn’t be prouder to see 6,000 square feet of cross-laminated timber from their own wood products operation being used to construct the Tribal Knowledge and Gathering Place. Now that N’chelohan is a living, breathing reality, the tribe feels even more closely aligned with CWU’s vision for the future.

“This contribution creates a tangible connection between the university and the Yakama Nation’s Treaty lands and traditional territory, serving as a lasting reminder of our shared history and enduring presence,” Wallahee said. “N’chelohan is more than a gathering place; it is a space where students can learn, connect, and find a sense of belonging while pursuing their educational goals. It stands as a symbol of what can be accomplished when institutions and Tribal Nations work together with a common vision.”

At the heart of the NAC is a renewed commitment to student success, with spaces designed to bring a sense of 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.

“Your commitment to our vision of being a model learning community of access and opportunity is demonstrated time and again in your support of our faculty, staff, and students,” Wohlpart said in thanking the Remaks for their ongoing commitment to building a better CWU for all.