Defining a bold, long-term vision for full campus build-out with a development plan for the next decade
University of Washington Campus Master Plan
The master plan introduces a new waterfront park, the West Campus Green, for both the campus and broader community
University of Washington’s 2018 Campus Master Plan (CMP) is the regulatory vehicle for the University’s future development, defining both the square footage to be constructed and the geographic location of such development.
The master planning effort focuses on the Seattle campus and its property located within the Major Institution Overlay, or MIO, and is guided by the 1998 City University Agreement between the University of Washington and the City of Seattle. Sasaki’s work on the CMP began in 2015 so that by 2018, the 2018 CMP would be in place to accommodate the Seattle campus’ growth demands. The Campus Master Plan accomplishes two objectives. It establishes a bold, long-term vision for full campus build-out, and guides development that will occur over its 10- year planning horizon.
The University of Washington (UW) is comprised of three campuses. The Seattle campus includes its historic Central Campus, its medical district to the south, athletics and recreation facilities to the east, and its more recent investment in West Campus.
The plan aims to support and catalyze academic and teaching research partnerships with allied industries, contribute to a highly livable innovation district, and stimulate job growth and economic development
The master plan situated a 10-year conceptual plan within a longer term development framework for the campus
The public realm framework for the plan built upon the existing radial axes of the campus and forged new connections to the waterfront
The plan extends UW’s commitment to better connect the University internally and with its broader context
The university includes 2.25 miles of continuous waterfront. The master plan includes a proposed shoreline activation strategy and waterfront trail
The Campus Master Plan creates a progressive and sustainable framework that will enable UW’s continued evolution as a 21st century institution. The Campus Master Plan identifies a growth allowance of six million net new gross square feet; balances the preservation of historic campus assets with increased density; and integrates the University’s strategic goals and academic, research, and service missions with capital plan objectives to guide the physical development of the campus.
The majority of the university’s future growth will occur in the West Campus, which converts lowrise development and surface parking lots into a dense innovation district that steps down in height as you move toward the water
Brooklyn Avenue serves as the spine through the West Campus and is repositioned as a complete green street
The public realm strategy for the Central Campus retains the existing historic open space structure, introduces development along the periphery, and makes the edges more porous
In the life of the plan the South Campus gets largely redeveloped as a world class academic medical district and medical center with an enhanced public realm strategy that connects to the water
Brooklyn Avenue serves as the spine through the West Campus and is repositioned as a complete green street
The public realm strategy for the Central Campus retains the existing historic open space structure, introduces development along the periphery, and makes the edges more porous
In the life of the plan the South Campus gets largely redeveloped as a world class academic medical district and medical center with an enhanced public realm strategy that connects to the water
A series of pedestrian bridges connects the South Campus to Central Campus. New open spaces provide views and physical connections to the water
The Campus Master Plan identifies potential development sites that could accommodate the growth allowance and provide room for continuous increases in student enrollment and research demands, guide creation of an active public realm, and complement the existing lexicon of higher education spaces on campus with new settings for collaboration and research partnerships.
Land currently used as surface parking accomodates innovation and industry partnerships north of the athletics and recreation precinct
A proposed land bridge connects the Central Campus to the East Campus
The plan includes a sustainability framework comprised of five elements
For more information contact Caitlyn Clauson.
