The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public input on the proposed Plant Biosciences Research Building, which will replace Johnson Hall. 

The proposed building will be four stories tall with a half basement and a single-story pavilion on the east side of the building, according to a news release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District. 

“We want to hear anything that [people] would want to be heard of for the process,” said John Hook, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers environmental resource specialist.

So far, the comments they received earlier in the process from different organizations and the public were generally positive, Hook said.

If the proposal is accepted, Hook said they tentatively expect to break ground in the summer of 2023, hopefully in June or July.  

If anyone would like to submit a comment, it may be filed online at or via email to [email protected] with “ARS/WSU Research Building” on the subject line, according to the news release. The comment period opened on Feb. 11 and will close on March 13.