SMATE under construction
The SMATE building took two years and $15 million to complete. The building welcomed its first WWU students in the Fall of 1996, with the grand opening of the Learning Resource Center following in February of 1997.
![Construction of SMATE with scaffolding over first floor](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/SMATEConstruction-Scaffolding-square.jpg?itok=E0DT0xvS)
![Construction photo of the back of SMATE early](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/SMATEConstructio-Back-square.jpg?itok=zy-DlJsg)
![The interior of the Learning Resources Commons under construction](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/LRC-Interior2-square.jpg?itok=BJmXMF3_)
![Construction of SMATE with cranes at the front of the building](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/SMATEConstruction-Cranes-square.jpg?itok=tbXnb9Mo)
![Construction photo of the back of SMATE middle](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/SMATEConstructionBack-0196-square.jpg?itok=EevKR0kg)
![The LRC in 1996 when first opened](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/EarlyLRC-square.jpg?itok=WNpl81Cw)
![Front of SMATE under construction with a cement truck in front of the building](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/Front%20with%20cement%20truck-crop-square.jpg?itok=P6-ueJzB)
![Construction photo of the back of SMATE with first floor](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/SMATEConstruction-Back2-square.jpg?itok=KWdegPgZ)
![The front of the SMATE building in 1996](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/SMATEFront-1997-square.jpg?itok=NDUeSbG-)
Grand Opening Announcement
![image of the Grand Opening flyer](/sites/smateprod9x1001.wwu.edu/files/styles/image_block_large/public/2020-12/Opening%20Poster-cropped.jpg?itok=txMOQhKJ)