GU's John J. Hemmingson Center
Gonzaga University’s newest building, the John J. Hemmingson Center, dominates the heart of campus. The 167,726 square-foot building was built over the course of two years and cost $60 million. It officially opens August 27 in preparation for the incoming freshman class. “The whole building is really designed around students, and what the building can do for students,” said the Director of the Hemmingson Center Chuck Faulkinberry.
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In this area known as Main Street, the John J. Hemmingson Center contains various shops and services, including a Starbucks, a convenience style store and pop-up retail space.
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Gonzaga University’s newest building, the John J. Hemmingson Center, dominates the heart of campus. The 167,726 square-foot building was built over the course of two years and cost $60 million. It officially opens August 27 in preparation for the incoming freshman class. “The whole building is really designed around students, and what the building can do for students,” said the director of the Hemmingson Center, Chuck Faulkinberry.
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The entrance of the Hemmingson Center was intentionally designed to connect the various offices housed there, Chuck Faulkinberry said. Two bridges span the entrance rotunda. “Local community members can come in as well so students aren’t just interacting with themselves,” said spokeswoman Elizabeth Higgins. In the months leading up to the completion of the center between 110 and 130 workers were on site daily, according to a Gonzaga news release.
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The Zag Wall is an interactive board that allows people to write messages. According to Chuck Faulkinberry, the wall can archive up to 15 years of messages. The building contains 20,000 square feet of meeting space, which can be reserved by the general public, Faulkinberry said.
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Daniel Caris, Zag Dining’s sustainability coordinator, tends to hydroponically grown plants. Between five and 10 percent of the food used in the dining facilities will be provided by the greenhouse, Chuck Faulkinberry said.
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The greenhouse, which is located on the roof of the Hemmingson Center, will provide some of the produce used in Gonzaga’s dining facilities. “Really the greenhouse is meant to be an interactive learning space for students,” Chuck Faulkinberry said. The tables, which are made out of aluminum, don’t get hot in direct sunlight, he said.
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Chuck Faulkinberry tends a beehive in the new building. Faulkinberry is a beekeeper, as well as the director of the Hemmingson Center.
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In the basement of the John J. Hemmingson Center there is a movie theater. Gonzaga has the rights to first run movies. Movies are free for students and available to the public for a small cost, Chuck Faulkinberry said.
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Large pumps pull water from the Spokane Aquifer, into the building and then back into the aquifer. The center is cooled by the moving water, Chuck Faulkinberry said.
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Sarah Schwering, director of marketing, stands next to a large photograph of Florence, Italy. The mural is 24 feet high by 30 feet wide.
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The roof of the Hemmingson Center is angled to capture the maximum amount of sunlight, Chuck Faulkinberry said.
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A reflection room, located on the second floor of the Hemmingson Center, is designed to give people a place to disconnect and reflect, Chuck Faulkinberry said. “One of the things we’ve found is that students now days just can’t disconnect from their phones.” he said. “So we’re giving them a purposeful space where they can take 10.”
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Student employees work in the new Gonzaga Outdoors Office, which is located in the basement of the building.
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The Bulldog Pub features the iconic sign from the Bulldog, formerly located on the corner of Hamilton and Sharp. It’s designed as a family style restaurant, Chuck Faulkinberry said, although it does serve alcohol. The pub is open to the public.
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A tour group is led into the dining center of the Hemmingson Center. Known as the COG, the dining center features food from around the world. The on-campus catering company, Sodexo, hired about 60 new employees in anticipation of the August 27 opening.
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