WSU Everett wins award for being key piece of region’s future

By Jim Davis

Herald Business Journal

EVERETT — Washington State University Everett opened its new campus building in north Everett to much fanfare at the beginning of this school year.

Now, the university, the city of Everett and Snohomish County are drawing praise for the project. The three institutions won a 2017 VISION 2040 Award from the Puget Sound Regional Council for the campus.

The award recognizes innovative projects that help ensure a sustainable future for the growing region. The award was presented at the Snohomish County Tomorrow annual meeting this week.

“This was a huge undertaking, many years in the making — decades even — that required incredible partnerships to make a reality,” Josh Brown, Puget Sound Regional Council executive director, said.

Brown added that the campus will bring economic opportunties to the city by offering “advantageous degree paths” for students seeking majors in aerospace and tech.

The 95,000-square-foot structure can eventually accommodate 1,000 to 1,100 students a year. That’s more than double the 500 students that WSU and its partner universities taught last year across the street in EvCC classrooms and offices.

The project cost roughly $64.6 million, including $10 million for design. Construction took just less than two years.

The campus has attracted more students. The Everett campus registered a 17.5-percent increase in students this fall over last. The university, which serves only juniors and seniors, saw its enrollment grow from 189 students in 2016 to 222 this fall. WSU Everett also enrolled 83 new transfers.

While the Everett campus is the smallest in the system, it also saw the largest percentage increase. WSU Spokane followed with an 8.2 percent increase.

The Puget Sound Regional Council develops policies related to regional growth, transportation and economic development for Snohomish, King, Pierce and Kitsap counties. VISION 2040 is an effort designed to meet the needs of the 5 million people expected to be living in the region in 2040.

Jim Davis: 425-339-3097; jdavis@heraldnet.com; @HBJnews.