Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
Designed by GGLO and built by Absher Construction, the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center's organic form and iconic roof have shaped this premier place for students, faculty, alumni, and the community to celebrate diversity.
The Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center, a vision of the late WSU President, is inspired by an indigenous philosophy of respect and interdependence between humans and nature. Influenced by the primacy of the region's Nez Perce tribe, the Cultural Center's form and the iconic roof is a simplified, singular structural element of the natives’ earth-shelter structures. The reflective roof skin brings in light to the spaces below, shimmering with a sense of muted Palouse hues, paying homage to both cultural inclusiveness and sense of place.
The 16,000 square foot building houses four Knowledge Rooms, Demonstration Kitchen, Dining Room and Diversity Education offices centered around the Living Room transitioning seamlessly into an indoor-outdoor cultural event space and leads to the Meditation Pavilion nestled in seclusion among the trees.
The Knowledge Rooms highlight the traditionally underserved cultures of Washington – Native American, Latino/Latina, Asian/American Pacific Islander, and African American – providing a space for students to explore individuality and the interconnectedness of cultures. The Demonstration Kitchen is meant to serve large functions or be a shared and intimate teaching kitchen. It educates visitors about the social importance of food and provides opportunities for cultural nourishment.