Washington State University Visitor Center

Pullman, Washington
Winner: Creativity and Innovation

Gross square feet: 4,277 sq ft
Owner: Washington State University
Architect: Olson Kundig Architects
General Contractor: Sellen Construction
Sustainability Consultant: Sellen Sustainability 

  • The WSU Visitor Center incorporates FSC-certified wood into the cross laminated timber (CLT) structural roof panels, glulam beams, I-joist engineered beams and LVL engineered members. 
  • The building serves as a showcase and tangible example of the ways FSC-certified wood can be incorporated into the number of building technologies largely developed at the university. Included among these are cross-laminated timber, oriented strand board, and Pine beetle kill wood.
  • Jury member, Shannon Stage, President of USGBC Louisiana says, “It’s a beautiful building that has deliberately highlighted sustainability.”
  • “The Washington State University Visitor Center is an advertisement for wood,” Lloyd Alter, Managing Editor of Treehugger.com.