Central Washington University CHCI Assessment Report 12-10-13
General Description The CHCI Building is a very unique structure with a plan and systems design as unique as the program it housed. The building consists of approximately 9,000-gsf of interior space in a single floor at ground level. There are a number of mechanical and observation mezzanines that are not accessible to the public. The enclosed space provided functional areas for housing the chimps, office and support space for faculty and research, a public lobby with a gift shop, small seminar classroom and on-grade observation areas into both the interior and exterior chimp areas. Directly adjacent to the interior functions, is a 4,700-sf secure exterior cage and exercise yard for the chimps. This yard is contained by a tall concrete retaining wall and earth berm on 2 sides and it is secured across the upper portions of the wall and overhead with a steel structure and steel security mesh. The outdoor exercise area has multiple levels formed with stepped retaining walls. There is a large pole structure at the center and a number of rope swings attached to the overhead structure. There is also a water misting system, similar to a dry-pipe fire sprinkler system above the secure mesh. This system provided humidity and cooling of the chimps during the hot Ellensburg summers.
History Completed in May 1993, the CHCI Building was designed by Rick Sparks in 1991 to replace a small and limited animal housing area in the CWU Psychology Building located to the east of the site. Originally called the Psychology Animal Research Building, the building housed two chimpanzees. As the program developed by Roger and Debra Fouts grew and expanded, the facility, now renamed the Chimpanzee Human Communication Institute grew to house a family of four chimps. With the passing of the initial generation of chimps, the retirement of the Fouts, combined with the inability to introduce new chimps into a closed family group and the inability of the security systems in the building to contain younger chimps, the University made the decision to retire the last two chimps and close the Institute. Since its original construction, the CHCI Building has only had one minor expansion. In 2007, the open space beneath the entry roof was enclosed to create a larger public lobby, a conference room and larger reception area.
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