Art, Engineering and Industry Partners Transform Gonzaga's Structural High Bay Lab

Detail of a mural showing illustrations of familiar Spokane landmarks
Spokane landmarks feature in the mural gracing the structural high bay lab.
June 01, 2026
School of Engineering & Applied Science
Video of the mural's progress by Juan Santiago Espinosa Hernandez ('26)

STEM lab spaces generally feel studious and no-nonsense, but Gonzaga’s Structural High Bay breaks the mold with a unique mural celebrating the Spokane civil engineering community.

The interdisciplinary campus and industry partners behind the colorful project came together for a ribbon cutting ceremony in early May.

students group wtih a professor in front of a mural surrounded by scaffolding
Nine art majors under Assistant Professor Jennifer Seo brought the civil engineering mural to life during the Spring 2026 semester.

During the Spring 2026 semester, Civil Engineering senior Julia Heywood ('26) saw her design, titled Inland Foundations, added to several surfaces within the High Bay.

Heywood, the winner of a student design competition, wove representations of civil engineering subdisciplines through regional landmarks. The primary section measures 24'x12' on a wall above the lab's interior doors. Complementary sections cover the top surface and side edge of a massive concrete strong wall. The testing face of the wall stayed unpainted to be used for instruction and research.

Under the direction of Assistant Professor Jennifer Seo, nine Art majors turned the lab into their art studio each Wednesday in spring 2026. Students were Steph Borla, Aubree Click, Josiah Dauvin, Lily Hammock, Mat Hein, Molly Patko, Aislyn Ross, Abby Warrington, and Cailyn White.

The project also gave most of the students their first experience in working on scaffolding, necessary to reach their high concrete 'canvas.' They received crucial safety training from Shawn Gonzales of All Wall Contracting, who also erected the scaffolding and conducted regular safety inspections.

Several flat surfaces painted in sea green with images of a bridge, a river, and the spires of the church at Gonzaga's campus with the words Engineers of the future
The finished mural faithfully recreates the original design.

Additional industry partnerships made the project possible. Walker Construction funded the scaffolding and supplied additional work lights. Mallory Paint and Benjamin Moore donated paint and other materials.

Nine adults stand behind a red ribbon with large scissors in hand.
Partners cutting the ribbon at the unveiling ceremony included representatives from Walker Construction, Mallory Paint, All Wall Contracting, and Gonzaga University.

Dean Jennifer Shepherd of the School of Engineering & Applied Science served as master of ceremonies for the celebration. Notable attendees included Interim Provost Mia Bertagnolli and Tomson Spink, Associate Vice President for Plant Operations, Planning & Construction Services.

Learn more about Structural Engineering at Gonzaga
Structural Engineering