VANCOUVER, Wash. - When Washington State University Vancouver was established 23 years ago, Earl L. Muir served as campus development manager. He managed the development and design of the WSU Vancouver campus. Muir was very excited to be involved in the initial stages of planning and designing a brand new campus for Washington State University.

 

During his tenure on the project, he served as manager for site selection, programming, environmental assessment, planning and phase one construction of the campus. His vision, artistic skills and dedication to perfection are reflected in every building and facility on the Vancouver campus.

 

Muir attended Washington State College, now WSU, graduating in ‘54 with a baccalaureate degree in architectural engineering. He and his wife, Margery, returned to Pullman in 1967 when he took a position with his alma mater in the Capital Planning Office. Muir was the university’s staff architect for the Fine Arts Building, the Webster Physical Sciences Building (which is the tallest building in the state of Washington due to elevation), Hulbert Hall and Martin Stadium.

 

The last 10 years of his 30-year career at WSU was spent working on Phase 1 of the WSU Vancouver campus, which was reportedly the highlight of his career.

 

Muir passed away in Pullman, Wash. on Nov. 28, 2009 at the age of 77. To honor his legacy and passion for WSU, his family made a generous contribution to create a new seating area on the WSU Vancouver campus for students, faculty, staff and community members to enjoy.

 

Nestled above the tree line, this seating area is southeast of the Firstenburg Student Commons at the top of the pathway that leads behind the Library building. The benches are strategically placed to look toward campus’s main plaza in order to view the projects Muir helped create.

 

This article was featured in the Northwest Cougar Quarterly.