Drilling, heavy machinery and backup alarms echo across Western Washington University’s south campus as construction for the Student Development and Success Center begins, interrupting lectures and disrupting students.
Before spring break started on March 17, signs announcing the start of the center’s construction blocked off the main walkway into south campus, stating construction was to start over break.
John Thompson, senior director of university communications, said noise ordinances are generally under local jurisdiction and that construction projects at Western comply with all city ordinances. Under city ordinances, construction is permitted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thompson also said the Facilities Development and Operations Center on campus plans to send a reminder to instructors in the Academic Instructional Center ahead of the groundwork.
“Ground improvement work, which is expected to be some of the loudest construction noise of the projects, is scheduled May 12-26,” Thompson wrote in an email. “Things should be quieter again for finals and the study period leading up to it.”
The project manager holds regular meetings with people in affected buildings and other stakeholders to discuss upcoming construction impacts. Thompson said the upcoming groundwork noise was discussed in the last meeting.
Noise pollution is common in small cities like Bellingham. Unwanted chronic noise from outdoor sounds like highway traffic, human activity and construction sites can affect whole body systems and health. In 2025, a study published in The British Medical Journal found that prolonged exposure to noise pollution contributed to irritability, tiredness and difficulty concentrating.
Alex Lunbeck, a third-year geology student, has science labs in the Interdisciplinary Science Building early in the morning and said that the noise is disruptive.
“I usually don’t hate the early morning labs, but since the construction started up after spring quarter started, it’s been disrupting my peace,” Lunbeck said. “It better not be like this during finals week.”
Thompson said the project manager and construction coordinators have not received any complaints, but the Facilities Development and Operations customer service center has heard from a few people requesting help closing the windows because of the noise.
Zach McIvor, a third-year teaching-education student, said his class in the Academic Instructional Center spends a good amount of time trying to close the windows.
Megan Coffland, project executive for BNBuilders on Western’s Student Development and Success Center, said that the loudest part of construction will be during the summer.
“That work, in addition to concrete and structural work, will continue throughout the summer with considerations around finals and graduation week,” Coffland wrote in an email. “This set of work will be the loudest portion of the project.”
More information on the Student Development and Success Center can be found here and SDSC construction impacts are listed here.
Jamie Reed is a campus life reporter. She is a third-year public relations major with a minor in anthropology. She likes to draw and listen to music while enjoying the sun when it’s out. You can reach her at jamiereed.thefront@gmail.com.
