Major Renovation Project Begins at WWU's Miller Hall

BELLINGHAM – A major renovation of Western Washington University’s Miller Hall has begun and will revitalize the aging building.

The $60.4 million project, funded by the Washington State Legislature, will provide a boost to the local economy with at least 50 construction workers with well-paying jobs for the next two years. Additional employment will be created by the project among suppliers of equipment and materials.

Renovation of the 134,000 square-foot building, located on the university’s Red Square and adjacent to Sehome Arboretum, will provide general University classrooms, computer labs, instructional space, offices and support facilities for Woodring College of Education and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.

“We appreciate the support from the Legislature for this important and major renovation project for Miller Hall. It is critically needed and will enhance the great work being done by Woodring College of Education and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages,” said WWU President Bruce Shepard.

This renovation will replace numerous aging building systems, provide improved access for people with disabilities to classrooms, labs and offices, and allow for reprogramming of academic spaces. Miller Hall, originally WWU's Campus School, was built in 1943 and enlarged in 1968. No major renovation work has been done since. The project is anticipated to take about two years.

The University has successfully relocated all of the offices of Woodring College of Education from the 1960’s wing into their temporary offices in the 1940’s wing of Miller Hall. Woodring will occupy the temporary offices for approximately one year while the 1960’s wing is remodeled.

The project, which will incorporate a number of green features, is designed to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of Silver or higher. LEED certification is a green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Windows will be operable, mechanical systems will use radiant cooling, and highly efficient lighting will be combined with increased daylighting. Plans call for a “deconstruction” plan to take advantage of the salvage value of materials and to recycle site and building waste to prevent useable materials from going into landfills.

Where possible, the project team will use recycled and recyclable products as well as products purchased locally, such as certified wood products from the Pacific Northwest.

Due to the construction, vehicular traffic traveling north of the Steam Plant will be restricted to authorized traffic and Parking Lot 8G and 10G (north end) permit holders only. The stretch of East College Way between Miller Hall and the Arboretum will be closed to both pedestrians and bicyclists.

The only access to Miller Hall will be the northwest “bell tower” door (entry closest to Fraser Hall and off Red Square). Construction fencing will block east/west pedestrian access between Miller Hall and the Fine Arts building. Temporary signage will indicate detour routes.

The Miller Market food and beverage store, now closed due to construction, will reopen Aug. 24 in a temporary trailer on Red Square.

For more information, please visit the Constructions Alerts Web site or call WWU Facilities Management at 650-3497.

Dawson Construction of Bellingham is the general contractor and project construction manager. The project team also includes Mahlum Architects, Coughlin Porter Lundeen, civil and structural engineers; CDI Engineers, mechanical; Sparling, electrical and Berger Partnership, landscape architects.