Whatcom County in Talks to Purchase Building from Western Washington University

County plans to relocate Planning and Development Services from aging Northwest Annex headquarters

Jan. 27, 2026 at 4:47pm

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Whatcom County is in negotiations to purchase a building from Western Washington University to house its Planning and Development Services Department, which is currently located in the more than 100-year-old Northwest Annex building. The county plans to use $2.7 million that was earmarked for a new office campus to instead buy the WWU Testing and Passport Center, a 30,000-square-foot, two-story building located in the Sehome Village shopping center.

Why it matters

The move would allow the county to relocate its planning and development services from the aging Northwest Annex building, which has been deemed inadequate for the department's needs. The purchase would also benefit Western Washington University, which is looking to reduce its real estate footprint.

The details

Whatcom County Facilities Manager Rob Nye outlined the proposed deal to county council members, noting that 'everybody's winning' as WWU needs to 'lighten their load' and the county is getting 'such a great deal.' The Northwest Annex building, located at the corner of Smith Road and Northwest Drive, was previously slated for a new $60 million office campus project that was put on hold last summer due to rising costs.

  • The county council is expected to discuss the purchase in greater detail at its Feb. 10, 2026 meeting.
  • WWU has been granted the ability to continue using the Testing and Passport Center through April 2026 as the university works to find a new permanent home for the facility.

The players

Whatcom County

The local government entity in Whatcom County, Washington that is negotiating to purchase a building from Western Washington University to house its Planning and Development Services Department.

Western Washington University

The public university located in Bellingham, Washington that currently owns the Testing and Passport Center building that Whatcom County is looking to purchase.

Rob Nye

The Whatcom County Facilities Manager who outlined the proposed deal to purchase the WWU building to the county council.

John Thompson

The Western Washington University spokesman who confirmed the university will work to find a new permanent home for the Testing and Passport Center as the county takes over the building.

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What they’re saying

“Everybody's winning. WWU is winning because they need to lighten their load, and we're winning because we're getting such a great deal.”

— Rob Nye, Whatcom County Facilities Manager

“Western will work to find a new permanent home for the testing center in the upcoming months, as the county has granted the university the ability to continue to use the center through April.”

— John Thompson, Western Washington University Spokesman

What’s next

The Whatcom County Council is expected to discuss the proposed purchase of the WWU Testing and Passport Center building in greater detail at its February 10, 2026 meeting.

The takeaway

This deal represents a mutually beneficial arrangement between Whatcom County and Western Washington University, allowing the county to relocate its planning and development services from an aging facility while providing WWU the opportunity to reduce its real estate footprint. The purchase highlights the ongoing efforts of local governments to optimize their operations and infrastructure in response to evolving needs and budgetary constraints.