Fort Lewis College is currently embarking on a very exciting new phase in its goal to become the premiere public liberal arts college in the West -- the planning and construction of a new Student Union Building.  

The original College Student Union Building was constructed nearly 40 years ago, in 1968.  The original construction and additions have been, over time, aging at different rates.  The building has been plagued with leaks, mechanical issues, health and safety concerns, and so many other problems that it is estimated that it will take several million dollars to bring the facility up to code and to address new construction to accommodate space deficiencies.

The new Student Union Building will be one of the most technologically advanced and ecologically friendly Union Buildings in the country.  It will combine the efforts of students and college faculty/staff alike with advanced green building techniques to provide a truly unique Union experience to Fort Lewis College students.

To this end, the College is currently pursuing a precinct plan with Design Partnership of Cambridge based out of Charlestown, Massachusetts.  This plan will give Fort Lewis College a roadmap to improve the connectivity of public spaces in the central part of campus and define the programming options of the new Student Union Building.  Additionally, the plan will further the College’s comprehensive mission related to the Master Plan completed in 2004, by addressing the particular needs of the precinct, reflecting and establishing the wishes of students with an appropriate campus aesthetic, and providing a realistic framework for achieving those goals.  

The Associated Students of Fort Lewis College showed tremendous foresight and responsibility in the review and passage of the student fee that will cover the bulk of the construction costs.  In addition, the student body is performing admirably in helping form the school’s plan for what is needed and desired in the new facility through forums, meetings, and as committee members.  The result will be an informed planning process and a definitive precinct plan with which to move forward into the design phase of the project.  

At this early stage of planning, it is not definite when the new Student Union building will open, but our goal would be for the 2009-10 academic year.  The campus community will be updated on the status of the building project on a regular basis through this web-site and other avenues.