Univ. of Washington science programs to be housed in new building that includes public, private tenants

Several scientific programs at the University of Washington will expand into part of a planned 11-story building approved by the UW Board of Regents that will include a range of tenants.

“University occupancy will provide the opportunity to closely collaborate with other public and private sector tenants in the building working on compatible research and technologies,” according to the UW Regents meeting materials.

A “significant” portion of the building is slated for the UW’s Clean Energy Institute, the Brotman Baty Institute and the Institute for Protein Design, according to a UW press release Monday announcing the plans.

The building will be built in the west part of the campus, an area newly dubbed “Portage Bay Crossing.” The university sees the area as a place where multiple fields can come together and partner with “business, government, nonprofit organizations and the Seattle community,” according to the release. The plans show construction beginning in early 2023.

The project involves leasing UW-owned land for 80 years to the developer, Wexford Science & Technology, which will lease the building to the UW. Ownership of the building will revert to the UW after 80 years. A spokesperson called the arrangement a “newer approach to development for the UW.”

The building will have 340,000 rentable square feet and the UW may lease up to 130,000 square feet, or about four floors.

“This is a significant milestone for the UW and we are so excited to expand into the area west of campus and begin to define Portage Bay Crossing as a new place for discovery and innovation,” said UW vice president for facilities Lou Cariello in the release. “We envision this as a lively and vibrant place with a mix of academic, arts, culture and retail spaces where students, researchers and others can engage in support of the UW’s learning, research, health care and public service missions.”

Existing buildings at 3917 and 3935 University Way will be demolished for the new 1.3 acre site, which is just south of NE 40^th Street, and is bounded by Brooklyn Avenue NE to the west, University Way NE to the east, and the Burke-Gilman Trail and NE Pacific Street to the south.