ECC/T & IC Expansion/Renovation Project

Project Process

The Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity is conducting a feasibility study of space needs for the Ethnic Cultural Center/Theatre (ECC/T) and Instructional Center (IC) and of their current buildings’ adequacy for programmatic needs. Input from UW students and on- and off-campus communities, as well as from program staff, will inform the opportunities and scope of the project. In addition, systematic and professional analyses will provide factual and quantitative data on the physical condition of the existing facilities. Opportunities to remodel and expand the buildings will be considered as will the possibilities of moving to another location on campus.

There are currently plans to conduct this study up through the feasibility stage by gathering data from stakeholders, crafting a vision of facilities that will allow growth and the delivery of excellent programs, developing goals, and studying the existing need for expansion. Once this data has been gathered, several proposals for renovation and expansion will be evaluated. The current phase is anticipated to conclude in June 2008. After June, the project may possibly enter the pre-design phase of the process.

Committee

A committee drawn from representatives of the many different campus groups that use the ECC/T and IC has been convened to identify constituent needs and desires for the facilities. (See list of committee members.) Student needs and input are paramount in this analysis. The committee is committed to sustaining the future of the programs for the community of students yet to come.

The Capital Needs Assessment is led by the UW Capital Projects Office. Student fees administered by the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity fund half the project. University minor funds administered by the Capital & Space Planning Office fund the other half.

Focus Groups

Input from students (users of the facilities as well as non-users), staff, faculty, alumni, and community members will be gathered through focus groups and interviews conducted by the Office of Educational Assessment (OEA). OEA plans to conduct 15 focus groups (10 of them with students), 15 faculty interviews, and 10 community/alumni interviews. OEA will share the results with the committee and the architect charged with making a final recommendation on direction of the project.

Forum

The committee will share the results of the study in an open community forum, attended by the architect. This will provide an opportunity for forum participants to offer further input and feedback on the results. It will also allow the architect a chance to hear from constituents.

Analysis

The UW Capital Projects Office will conduct a building analysis of each facility in order to evaluate existing site conditions and existing building conditions. This report will provide the basis for future recommendations on options for renovation and expansion. Read the ECC Building Analysis Report.

Next Steps

The next step will be to consider the architects’ recommendations and project the impact and feasibility of those recommendations.