University of Washington Club

In March 2020, prior to the onset of the COVID pandemic, the Board of Trustees of the independent UW Club decided to cease operations and dissolve the non-profit corporate entity.

For more than a century, the UW Club and its iconic building played an important role in the life of the University, serving as a treasured gathering space for thousands of faculty, staff, retirees and alumni and a premium event space for the public. During the pandemic, the University used the vacant building as a COVID testing facility prior to its permanent closure in 2022.

Recognizing the significant impact of the UW Club’s closure, and the important role the building serves in strengthening the UW community, Provost Tricia Serio initiated a comprehensive capital projects assessment and financial feasibility analysis to determine future opportunities for the facility.

Unsurprisingly, this architectural and engineering review determined marked systems fragility, insufficient ADA accessibility, and extensive deferred maintenance requirements – including the decommissioning of the kitchen – that prevent the full reopening of the building in the immediate future. However, the building is structurally sound and remains suitable for select and limited use as a stand-alone event and meeting space.

Beginning this academic year, the Office of Alumni and Stakeholder Engagement (ASE) will administer the building, coordinate space requests and, in partnership with the UW Alumni and Retirement Associations, pilot community-building programming in the facility. The UW Club building will be open to faculty, staff, and retirees on Thursdays beginning October 16 and arts salons in partnership with the College of Arts & Sciences will take place throughout the year. Additional information is noted below.

For inquiries regarding the UW Club building, plans for its future, and potential event use, please contact the Office of Alumni & Stakeholder Engagement at aseexec@uw.edu

Beginning October 16, 2025, the UW Retirement Association and the UW Alumni Association will be opening the doors of the UW Club to all UW faculty, staff and retirees.

8:30-10:30 a.m.| Coffee & Community
Drop in for coffee, conversation, and community. Complimentary drip coffee and tea provided by the UW Retirement Association.

10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.| Gathering Hours
UW Alumni Association staff will be on-site to welcome you. The Large View Room and Colleen Rohrbaugh Room will be available for BYO lunch meet-ups, quiet work and small 1:1 meetings. There is no restaurant or catering on-site; outside food and beverages are permitted.

SPARK Salons at the UW Club are in-person, multi-disciplinary arts gatherings designed to bring the UW community together. SPARK stands for Space for Practice, Art, Reflection and Kinship. SPARK Salons will highlight campus artists in a casual atmosphere through engaging performances and conversations.

Salons will run on select Thursdays, from 4-5 p.m., followed by a happy hour with cash bar from 5-6:30 p.m. Programming content to be updated regularly.

• Thursday, November 20
  Rachael Lincoln, Associate Professor, Dance
  Micahel Swaine, Associate Professor, 3D4M: ceramics + glass + sculpture
  Jonathan Rodriguez, DMA ’22
• Thursday, January 15
• Thursday, February 19

For inquiries regarding the SPARK Salons, please contact Ted Poor, Associate Director for School of Music and Associate Professor of Jazz Studies, at tedpoor@uw.edu.

UW faculty and staff can request space at the UW Club for internal meetings and simple events.

The UW Club is an iconic building, however, it has significant use parameters and limitations and usage should be considered thoroughly to meet expectations.

Learn more with the UW Club Space Use Agreement and Policies. (pdf)

For the academic 2025-2026 year, limited calendar slots are coordinated through ASE/UWAA. To begin the request process, please complete the UW Club Space Request Form. Requests will be reviewed and responded to within 5 business days of receipt.