Washington State University’s old student bookstore, "The Bookie," has been repurposed as a one-of-a-kind student gathering place, the Chinook Student Center.  This 24-million-dollar project provides new spaces that will serve the students in Pullman for years to come with spots for studying, exercising, eating and socializing. The existing building was built in three phases over more than 50 years. In order to accommodate the higher ceiling spaces required by the university, a significant amount of floor structure was removed, requiring creative solutions for re-supporting existing walls. The overall seismic resistance of the building was improved with smart placement of concrete and masonry walls that served dual purposes of structure and architectural form. The signature element of the building, "The Curve," serves as an organizing feature which brings all the spaces together while maintaining a hierarchy of public, semi-public and private spaces.

 
architectural renderings by GGLO
photography by Jeff Amaran