History

Photos & Diagrams

Neal W. Werner

Below is a student artist's rendition of Neal Werner, who died in a tragic motorcycle accident.

Building Pictures & Diagrams Before Construction

Construction Photos

Building Diagrams Following Construction

History

1957

Planning for a Student Center-Commons for Oregon College of Education students begins.

1960

On October 24, the more than 46,000 square-foot Center was completed at a cost of $830,000. It included a snack bar, leisure-time area, student post office, lounge, dorm office, and student government office, on the main floor; a bookstore, alumni office, student publication offices, recreation area, and duplicating and information office on the lower floor. The area that is currently known as the Pacific Room doubled as the dining hall for dorm students and ballroom for special activities. It was known as the Commons.

1972

The College Center underwent its first major renovation. The name was changed from the “Student Center” to the “College Center” to identify the increase in building usage; the then Commons-area was turned into the Pacific Room and Coffee Shop: The following rooms were renamed-the Mural Room to the Willamette Room, Conference Room to the Wallowa Room and the upper Fire Place Room to the Oregon Room. The building was carpeted.

1981

The Centennial Union Building “CUB,” proposed as the name for the College Center, was vetoed by the Chancellor’s Office. Instead, The Sweet Shoppe, the Umatilla Room, and the music listening room were converted into the Cubby Hole, a derivative of CUB. During the conversion, the Sweet Shoppe operated out of the Umatilla Room. The bookstore was expanded downstairs and renamed the Western Store.

1984

The Student Placement Center (Career Services) moved from the Education Building to the College Center. The Deschutes Room moved to its present location, across from the Cubby Hole.

1986

A second major remodeling of the Center, which cost $620,000 began. A concrete bashing was held June 11 to break ground for a new social center and bookstore approved for an expanded College Center.

1987

A brand new Western Store moved to the main floor of the College Center, while Levi’s “Not Necessarily Normal,” the new student social center, was dedicated and opened for business.

1989

On May 31, the College Center was dedicated in memory of its former director, Neal W. Werner, and called the Werner College Center.

1991

The Cubby Hole was remodeled; the small deli became a “grab and go” store. The previous brown and beige color scheme of the Werner College Center was changed to blue and white. By 1991, the carpet in the Werner College Center was so old that the custodian had to patch large tears with duct tape. Regardless of the attempts to hold the carpet together, it tore further every time it was vacuumed; so, the old carpet was replaced in 1992. The new blue carpet was funded by Student Incidental fees and other moneys, not by state taxes.

1992

The Wolves’ Den study area was remodeled to build the espresso deli and desert area known as Caffe’ Allegro.

1995

Obtained $2.25 million from OSSHE for Phase I of a 3 Phase project. Planning with user groups begins.

1996

Broke ground in September for Phase I which will include a new food service area, building storage, relocation of the loading dock and a new handicapped assessable North entrance.

1997

The Institution name was changed to Western Oregon University, therefore changing the Werner College Center to the Werner University Center. Obtained $3.485 million from OSSHE for Phase II of the Master Plan. User group meetings begin with the Bookstore, student media, conference rooms and plaza/circulation areas.

1998

The Werner University Center received $2.8 million from the Oregon University System (OSSHE) for the final phase of the remodel.

2000

The Werner University Center Phase III was completed. Old and New HVAC system redone throughout the building and tied together into one system.

2003

The late night social center “The Den” was created in place of the Games room. The lower area of the WUC opened new hours of operation and some evenings the late night area was open until 2:00 am. The WUC operation along with Student Activities Board and the University Residences programmed activities in The Den every night.

2005

The ASWOU Stonewall Center for GLBTQ Students and Allies was created in the lower level of the WUC.

2008

The Book Exchange was walled in a a Student Leadership & Activities Programming Office was created.