The new student center at Northwest College is centrally located on the Powell, Wyoming campus, strategically linking the residential, recreational, and academic zones. Positioned along a main pedestrian promenade with north and south entries, the student center naturally draws students through its doors, establishing it as a vibrant campus hub. The building’s placement enhances surrounding outdoor spaces by framing two quads to the west and north, which serve as hubs for student activities and events. Additionally, patios to the west and south offer inviting areas for outdoor dining and socializing.

The student center offers dining services, a coffee bar, and open spaces for studying, socializing, and hosting events—earning it the title of the campus “living room.” The facility features offices for Resident Life, Campus Security, and the Center for Student Success, as well as flexible spaces for student clubs. A multi-purpose room supports up to 250 attendees for events such as movies, dances, and seminars, and easily converts from an enclosed classroom to an event space that can be opened to become a part of a fireplace lounge. The building also houses the NWC Outdoor Education program, which features a climbing wall, an academic lab, classrooms, and a recreation co-op that is open to students and the community.

The building’s design expands upon the modern design language of the campus, utilizing materials and textures that echo the surrounding landscape and adjacent campus buildings, while honoring the spirits of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes and the College’s brand.