Conference Spaces

A wide open room filled with windows that stretch ceiling to floorSituated at the top of Sehome Hill overlooking Bellingham Bay, Western offers an array of indoor and outdoor spaces to suit your needs. Whether you are planning a small meeting or a large conference, our staff will work with you to find the perfect venue(s) for your event.

Breakout Rooms

WWU offers a wide variety of breakout spaces to fit your conference needs. Many of our spaces are fully mediated with the latest technology and are ADA Accessible. From spaces with stunning views of Bellingham Bay or large group sessions in state-of-the-art lecture halls, we are sure you will find an ideal location for your conference activities. Please keep in mind that classroom and lecture hall space has limited availability when classes are in session.

See below for examples of our breakout spaces on Western’s campus.

Classrooms and Lab Space

Communications Building
Group of students in a large classroom with overhead lights
Academic West
View of Academic West building. A concrete building full of bright, tall windows and natural light.
Miller Hall
An empty classroom full of empty chairs facing the blank white board at the front of the class.

Viking Union

Classroom Spaces
An empty classroom full of empty seats faces the podium at the front of the class.
VU Multipurpose Spaces
A diamond checked carpet fills the large empty room
Meeting Rooms
A Viking Union meeting room with a large rectangular table and seating for 12

Lecture Halls

Arntzen Hall
Emply lecture hall filled with rows of seats facing a stage with a screen behind it.
Fraser Hall
The brick entrance to Fraser Hall. Several stairs lead up to the small glassed double door.
Computer Labs
A lab filled with computers sits darkly lit.

Theaters

Western hosts several state-of-the art performance venues to accommodate any needs of your large group.  In addition to performance spaces, two art galleries – the Western Gallery and Viking Union Gallery – offer impressive and unique displays of art in many different mediums, serving as the perfect backdrop for your conference.

Mainstage Theatre
stage with red curtain in front of rows of seats
Old Main Theatre
monochrome filtered photo shows rows of seats facing a stage
Douglas Underground Theatre
black and white photo of a tiled floor with rows of black seats
PAC Concert Hall
stage with yellow lighting and tan curtain, piano in middle

Multipurpose Spaces

Looking for space outside of the classroom? Western offers a variety of multipurpose spaces including our newly renovated gymnasium, intimate performance spaces, conference reception venues and even an on-campus planetarium.

Wade King Recreation Center
Wade King building with tall soaring ceilings and glass fronted.
MAC Gym
Large gymnasium space with polished floors and high ceilings
Haggard Hall Skybridge
The Haggard Hall skybridge is a cozy space with comfortable blue seating and carpeted halls.
The Underground Coffee House
The cozy underground coffee house has space for a band, and seating for loads of people to sit and chat.
Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education (SMATE)
SMATE interior is crowded with science items, a telescope, a preserved hawk and more.
Carver Gym
Exterior shot of Carver gym before the extensive remodeling.
Library Reading Room
The Library's Harry Potter room is a room with full valuted ceilings, arched tall windows and full of long tables for sitting multiple people in.
Canada House
Exterior shot of a plain two story house with several windows framed by blue sky behind it.
Miller Hall Collaborative Space
Large open space with high ceilings surrounded by windows. There are tables and chairs grouped in circles.
Academic West Skybridge and Foyer
An interior space with huge open windows look out upon the green space of campus
Planetarium
The Haggard Hall skybridge from the exterior showcases the large windows and immense natural light possibilities.

Outdoor Spaces

Western’s campus boasts the incredible natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Our over 90 varieties of trees, internationally recognized sculpture collection, bay views and gardens make for a stunning addition to your conference whether it be on one of our lawns, plazas or recreational fields.

Lakewood
A blue boat rests on the shore as the sun sets.
Performing Arts Center Plaza
The PAC is pictured on a bright, sunny day, with flowers lining the right side of the view.
Wade King Recreation Center Turf Field
Red track pictured next to a bright green turf field.
Old Main Lawn
Bright green grass lawn pictured as students walk past in the background on red brick paths.
Outdoor Center
A group of students paddle around the Red Square fountain in an inflatable raft during the annual club fair.
Haskell Plaza
Ariel view of Haskel Plaza as students roam from class to class.
Academic West Lawn
Large tree pictured with Academic West in the background.
Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education (SMATE) Lawn
Students converge at a red brick intersection with grass covering both sides of the path. Science building is pictured in the background.
Red Square
Ariel shot of the Red Square fountain as students enjoy the sun around it.
Harrington Turf Soccer Field
A side view of the beautiful green turf soccer field on a sunny day.
Communications Lawn
The communications lawn is pictured on a bright sunny day.