The Batie Natural Science Center is a learning resource for the residents of Lewis County as well as the students of Centralia College. The Center is named in honor of Bill Batie, a retired faculty member, who served as a counselor, Dean of Men, Director of the Night School, and Dean of Instruction as well as teaching biology and zoology courses over more than 30 years of service.

The Center consists of three distinct areas which are designed to be used independently or concurrently. One end of the building houses a hands-on laboratory, an area where students from kindergarten through college are able to handle some of the over 8000 botanical and zoological specimens collected from the Pacific Northwest or other regions by generations of college students and faculty.

Another focus of the Center is the display area. Here, taxidermy specimens can be viewed within glass cases which preserve and protect them. Visitors can read about the behavior or natural history of the displayed animals.

The third area of the Center is a central assembly room with tables, chairs, and a speaker's podium. This area is available for group presentations, meetings, or receptions. A unique mural covers one wall of the assembly area. Created by Penny Martindale, a member of the Art Department, the mural presents a geologic cross-section of Washington State with additional reference to animal distribution and the ancestral homes of Washington's Native Americans.

The Batie Natural Science Center was constructed in 1991 with generous support by the Burlington Northern Foundation, the Weyerhaeuser Company, and the Centralia College Foundation. Many Lewis County businesses donated construction materials as well. The result of these gifts is a unique instructional environment for local students and community members, providing an unprecedented opportunity for Centralia College to share its legacy of educational excellence.