For over 50 years, the Language and Literature (L&L) building housed CWU’s English, History and even some Philosophy courses. In 2024, the L&L building was torn down due to its ‘effects on the environment around it and aging infrastructure,’ with construction starting shortly after for the new North Academic Complex (NAC).
Now, with new buildings on the horizon for CWU, faculty are gearing up and getting ready for this expansion. Dr. Mary Radeke, associate professor of psychology, spoke on the excitement arising amongst the staff. “I think the general idea is that we are pretty excited that it’s coming, it’s going to be a new place for students and faculty … I think it’s needed,” Radeke said.
With the building expected to be completed by early 2026, students and staff are looking forward to what the NAC has in store. However, some complications did arise when construction on the geothermal wells near the psychology building began.
“Early on, it affected the South and East sides of the building, when they were drilling the thermal wells … that caused a pretty significant vibration on that end of the building,” Radeke said. “We could hear it on the North and West sides, but it was pretty pronounced to the point where it was rattling doors … when we brought it to the attention of the facilities and folks who were working on it, they adjusted to the best of their ability, so that helped, but it was still pretty significant early on.”
Any courses previously held in the old L&L building are currently being held across a few different Halls on campus; Those being Samuelson Hall, Black Hall and the Psychology building to name a few.
The NAC will be more environmentally friendly, which would provide a greener environment for CWU’s community. The previous L&L building was taken down due to poor infrastructure, cramped spaces and complex routine maintenance. Focused more towards general education classes, a majority of freshmen will have courses in the new building.
This new building will allow for larger class sizes, with 21 classrooms, and a lecture hall that will hold over 240 students.
Delano Palmer, the Director overseeing the Capital Projects and Planning team, spoke on the challenges that came with the construction of the NAC.
“The pandemic increased the cost pretty significantly, from somewhere about $85 million to $108 million … it no longer included a library as part of the design. Some of the lessons that we’ve learned from geothermal well technology is that it takes a lot of footprint to be able to put in a well … what we had to do was close down the Southeast lawn of the Psychology [building],” Palmer said.
Currently, construction is right on schedule for the building to be open for use in Fall 2026. This will be the first building under CWU President Jim Wohlparts’ leadership, working with the projects and planning team since the conception of the project. Palmer also noted that the geothermal wells will contribute heating and cooling to the NAC. Plans are also in place for an emergency backup plan, allowing for CWU to sustain operations in the case of a power outage.
Not only is the NAC entering its final phase of construction, but a few renovations on campus are also wrapping up. Palmer spoke on the multiple projects expected to be completed in
2026.
“2026 is a very exciting year for CWU. First, Black Hall’s renovation will be complete, which will [house] the Multicultural Center and all sections of it will be open. Fall 2026 will be the North Academic Complex, then we’ll be into heavy portions of the design for the aviation degree expansion up at Bowers field,” Palmer said. “The three projects that we’re hoping to be able to step into is, first, a ‘student first center’, which would be a renovation of Boullion Hall … The second is an Arts Education Complex, which would be a replacement of Randall Hall and Michaelson Hall as it stands today. And the third would be a behavioral health building as a replacement for the psychology building.”
For the NAC, the capital projects and planning team was granted $108 million, approximately $10 million for the aviation degree expansion, $6 million for Black Hall renovations, $16.4 million for the second geothermal plant, $4.5 million for energy efficiency projects, $11.7 million for emergency backup. Currently
, the Capital Projects and Planning team has requested just under $9 million for both the design plans for the Art Education Complex and the behavioral health building.
Palmer noted that there is also a plan in place for geothermal sustainability, which would lead into the projects and planning teams’ decarbonization plan over the next 15-20 years. This type of environmental care will provide a healthy and safe space for all. Overall, the consensus towards the NAC is positive, with faculty anticipating with excitement on what CWU has in store for the future of their campus.
Money granted for planned Budget for Projects finishing/starting 2026
North Academic Complex – $108 million
Aviation degree expansion – $9.9 million
Black Hall renovations – $6 million
2nd Geothermal plant – $16.4 million
Energy Efficiency projects – $4.5 million
Emergency Backup – $11.7
Art Education Complex design – Requested $9 million (expected to increase)
Behavioral Health Building design – Requested $9 million (expected to increase)
Total – $156.5 million + $18 million requested
Budget provided by Capital Projects and Planning Director, Delano Palmer.
