SPARK Innovation Hub at WSU
By: Marisa West, Senior Multimedia Journalism Major at Washington State University
The SPARK Innovation Hub is known by students and staff of Washington State University campus for many things.
Across from a large wall of screens, sits enormous stairs for students to gather for lectures, meetings, and even movie nights. Students gathered to study and enjoy the time before class.
When visiting Pullman, the first thing you notice is the flags giving directions to Washington State University (WSU) Campus. It is one of the focal points in Pullman, and the campus welcomes the citizens of Pullman, just like students and staff.
A student scrolls through his phone in a reading nook on the third floor of The Spark. This particular nook is common for reading undisturbed or watching the sunset over downtown Pullman.
The Spark is located on Washington Street as you enter campus and is open to everyone 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday.
There are numerous attractions to enjoy at the Spark. A stop for a perfect cup of coffee and a snack from the Starbucks Cafe may take some time, but you will not regret stopping by.
The Starbuck in the Spark is known for being the busiest on Campus. In direct contest to the Starbucks in The Bookie, there is almost a constant line to get a coffee, cold drink, sandwich or snack between classes.
Studying in the group study rooms, the communal areas, curled up in a comfy chair, or sitting on the unique large steps, the Spark is available for whatever environment helps you keep on task.
Comfy chairs are available around the building, but these puffy chairs sit on the first floor. These chairs go quick, but if you can catch one available, they make a comfortable place to catch up on work.
Just make sure not to get too comfortable, some have been known to fall asleep in these chairs.
When I was given the prompt, “No Place Like Pullman” I immediately thought about the Spark building. When I came to the WSU campus last year, this was the first place someone suggested I check out. It is one of the go-to places to study, get together with friends and study groups, or just to get a snack and your daily Starbucks.
This last summer, The Spark Innovation Hub continued its versatility to the public by adding the Gesa Credit Union in the entrance and putting in an ATM in front of the building.
Gesa Credit Union was added to the building in the Summer of 2022. There are bank tellers on staff to help with any inquiry.
The way I tackled this assignment was to visit the Spark at different times of the day. I wanted to show what the atmosphere is like at different times during the day.
Students start to gather in the Spark Innovation Hub to get a jump start on homework and study for exams.
In the morning I got a view of the early birds getting coffee and studying before class, while later in the day I saw the long lines of people waiting for snacks, coffee, and late lunches after class as they get ready to start studying and homework.
Across from the Starbucks sits students studying between classes while enjoying breakfast or a snack.
My strategy for taking photos was to walk around the building and take pictures of my favorite rooms and nooks to study. I found several people enjoying the areas I have spent so much time in.
A student working on classwork while enjoying their Starbucks coffee and sandwich.
On the third floor of the Spark has two large sections where students can gather as groups or individually to get work done. These are separate from the classrooms and study rooms on that level.
Large comfy chairs are available on the first floor in a small gathering space. During the day students study there, but at night you may find a group of friends watching a movie on the monitor on the wall.
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