University of Washington Campus Master Plan
University of Washington Campus Master Plan
Developing a long-term vision for the growth of one of the nation’s leading universities
Developing a long-term vision for the growth of one of the nation’s leading universities

Location:
Seattle, WA
Client:
University of Washington
Services:
Project description:
The University of Washington (UW) is a national leader in higher education. To accommodate its anticipated growth, the university developed, between 2015 and 2018, a long-term vision for the full buildout of the Seattle campus. The master planning effort focused on property located within a Major Institution Overlay and included recommendations for open space, circulation, transportation, and physical development. Understanding that the plan needed to reflect the interests of the large and diverse communities served and affected by the university, community outreach played a significant role in the planning process.
Results:
S&A and UW worked to ensure meaningful community involvement throughout the planning process. Community members and university stakeholders contributed a breadth of input that enabled the planning team to develop a plan that reflected community priorities. The updated Campus Master Plan, approved by the Seattle City Council, identified a growth allowance of six million net new gross square feet and created a sustainable framework to guide the physical development of the campus. By the numbers, the project included:
- 2 open house meetings and 3 drop-in “office hours”
- 2 online presentations
- 1 SEPA public hearing
- Email blasts to over 160,000 people
- Mailings to over 20,000 addresses
- Media outreach to over 50 local and regional newsrooms
- Key materials translated into multiple languages
