Like the rest of the Oregon State campus this time of year, the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center exudes a sleepy summertime vibe, but staff at the center, next door to College of Business headquarters Austin Hall, are filled with anticipation for their first full school year at the heart of campus.
The 25-year-old center opened its new facility in February and hosted a grand opening celebration in April. Before the move, it was housed in a small, older home on Jackson Street at the campus’ edge.
On a recent afternoon, assistant director Reagan Le and student leadership liaison An Vuong held down the fort, greeting visitors and reiterating the center’s goal to be a place for students of all nationalities. Outreach and community building are cornerstones of the center’s mission, and Le said he hopes the center and the College of Business can partner on events and projects whenever possible.
The one-story, 3,500 square-foot structure was designed by Jones & Jones Architecture of Seattle. Its exterior is based on a mix of housing styles found in some of the regions represented by the center, and the interior features meeting spaces, a student kitchen, offices and a meditation/quiet room, all following the theme of drawing from cultural aspects of Asian and Pacific Island regions.
College of Business students, as well as all other students, should feel free to drop by the center to visit, study or just hang out. It’s just west of Austin Hall on Jefferson Way.
For more photos of the center, click here.