Ethnic Cultural Center Expansion Project

For 36 years the Ethnic Cultural Center (ECC) has been a driving force to recruit, retain, educate and graduate underrepresented students at the University of Washington. Since its inception in 1972, this “home away from home” has created a vibrant and positive campus climate that allows students to maximize their educational and student life experiences.

2007 Leadership Retreat

The ECC building was originally intended to serve as a temporary 10-year facility that would eventually be relocated to a permanent spot on central campus. Over time, students became attached to the building and location, thinking of it as the ECC's permanent home. 

While the facility continues to be a great resource for students, space is in high demand. Since 1972, the number of students and student groups using the facility has greatly increased. Originally home to five student organizations, the ECC now houses more than 62 student groups in 22 offices, while providing gathering space and a “hang out” spot for current students.

Unfortunately, this “home away from home” has not grown in size along with student use. For this reason the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, in partnership with the vice provost for Student Life and the Services and Activities Fee committee, have initiated the Ethnic Cultural Center Expansion Project.

Construction on the proposed new facility is scheduled to begin April 2010 and is projected to be completed by August 2011. The architecture firm hired for the ECC Renovation Project, Rolluda Architect, has a team of former ECC students working on the project. These ECC alumni have returned to help design and rebuild the center to better serve today’s students. They are: Alex Rolluda, '85, '89; Sam Cameron, '73, '75; and Sam McPhetres, '99, '07.

Alex Rolluda

Sam Cameron

Sam McPhetres

Alex Rolluda
A Seattle native, Alex Rolluda attended high school in the city of Manila in the Philippines. Soon thereafter, he returned to Seattle to continue his education at the University of Washington. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture from 1982 to 1989 and is now a principal of the firm Rolluda Architects. While at the UW, he was involved with the Filipino Student Association (FSA), which is housed in the ECC.

Sam Cameron
Originally from Louisiana, Sam Cameron attended the University of Washington from 1969 to 1975 for both undergraduate (environmental design) and graduate (architecture) degrees. While at the UW he was an active member of the Black Student Union (BSU) and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., both housed at the ECC. Currently, Cameron is a project manager for Rolluda Architects.

Sam McPhetres
Originally from the island of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (it is a Commonwealth of the United States, just north of Guam), Sam McPhetres received his undergraduate degree (communications) in 1999 and his graduate degree (architecture) in 2007.  While at the UW he was an active member of the Micronesian Island Club, which is housed at the ECC.  McPhetres is currently an intern architect.

Learn more about the expansion project and the history of the ECC.