Hogue Building embarks on a new era

ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- For the past 40 years, the Hogue Technology Building has been home to the industrial and engineering technology programs at Central Washington University.

To accommodate enrollment growth and advancements in technology, the building is getting a $12 million addition. After the work is complete in 2011, the existing building will be remodeled.

Administrators hope to complete the entire project for $27 million.

"The faculty have been pushing for this for 10 years now," said Bill Bender, a professor in the Industrial and Engineering Technology department. "The Legislature is good about funding capital projects, but it takes a while. All the faculty and staff are very excited."

The Hogue building consists of 36,000 square feet. The addition will add another 56,000 square feet, which will primarily be used for specialized labs.

The university is working with LMN Architects of Seattle on the addition's design and TW Clark of Spokane on construction.

Improvements needed

The existing building is out of date in many respects, Bender said. Ventilation systems struggle to maintain air quality in labs. Lighting options are limited to "on" or "off," and sound echoes off concrete floors, ceilings and walls. There's also no air conditioning.

Another problem is lack of space. When Hogue was constructed, there was only one degree program. Now there are seven: construction management, industrial technology, electrical and mechanical engineering technology, technology education, safety and health management and a bachelor of applied science.

The building can accommodate 200 students, but there are currently about 500 enrolled in the programs, Bender said. This means they're spread throughout campus in buildings often ill-equipped to meet their needs.

By being under one roof, students will be able to collaborate with one another on different projects -- mimicking what takes place in the job market, Bender said.

"The real benefit is we'll have specialized, dedicated labs to do hands-on projects," he said. "They'll gain by doing. We can't really do that now."

The Hogue addition is designed to earn platinum certification for Leadership Energy and Environmental Design -- the highest category of sustainability. The university's goal is to consume the same amount of energy when the building is complete as it does now.

"It'll be a living example of what students are learning," said Bender, citing renewable energy like wind and solar farms. "It'll be a showcase to the local community."

$27 million granted by state

The university had sought $47 million from the Legislature during the 2009-2011 biennium, which would have funded the entire project. Instead, it received $27 million.

That money is intended for the expansion. When counting furnishings, fixtures, equipment and other incidentals, the cost is expected to total about $20 million.

Bill Vertrees, vice president for business and financial affairs at Central said he's hoping to use the rest to fund the remodel of the existing building. With the state of the economy, he's optimistic those funds will be sufficient.

For the remodel alone, the university received 20 bids. The winning one was one-third lower than expected, Vertrees said.

"A lot of them don't have work," he said. "They are being much more competitive."

Vertrees said he must check if spending money on the remodel is legal. If it isn't, or if more money is needed, the university would have to return the funds and go back to the state to make another capital budget request.

"We have quite a process to do through to figure out what happens," Vertrees said.

Depending how the funding scenario plays out, the remodeling project could begin in either 2012 or 2013. Through the renovation, labs will be subdivided into classrooms and office space.

* Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 509-577-7684 or at esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com

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