Phase 1 Milestones
Phase I of the project to build wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House came to completion when the University of Washington and Native American communities celebrated its Intellectual House grand opening on March 12, 2015.
Phase I included construction of an 8,400 square-foot building that features a gathering hall for 600, a large kitchen that accommodates teaching space for indigenous food preparation and a meeting space. Also included is an outdoor gathering circle.
The planning process received input and guidance from UW community members, an elders committee and regional tribes. Funding for Phase I was provided through the UW, individual gifts, organizations, communities, corporations, foundations and government organizations. A site blessing was performed on April 10, 2009 and the Phase 1 groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 25, 2013.
Fundraising for Phase II – a Teaching and Learning space – is underway. Information on how to support these efforts can be found on the Intellectual House Phase 2 Campaign page.
More News
Rising from Hallowed Ground: wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House is a place the UW Native American community can call home. Read the cover story of the June 2015 issue of Columns Magazine.
wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House opens its doors. Watch the UW 360 segment featuring the grand opening festivities.
As home for Native learning opens, a dream is realized. Read the full story on the Intellectual House opening.
View photos of the construction process, including the August 6 Log Blessing.
The UW broke ground on wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ, Oct. 25, 2013, celebrating a significant milestone in the 40-year dream to build a longhouse on campus. Read more about the groundbreaking milestone.
The schematic design, site plan and floor plan have been approved for the Intellectual House.
Design and Construction for Intellectual House Begins.
Snoqualmie Indian Tribe pledges $100,000 to support the Intellectual House. Read about the Snoqualmie Tribe pledge.
UW Interim President Phyllis M. Wise has pledged $5 million in matching gift funds toward the $10.6 million needed to build the Intellectual House if $5 million can be raised by the end of 2011. Make a gift towards this matching total.
UW Regents approve traditional naming of the House of Knowledge to Wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ, which translates to “Intellectual House” in the Lushootseed language and is phonetically pronounced “wah-sheb-altuh”. Read the details Read the naming details.
Jones & Jones have been selected as the architects for the Intellectual House. Their predesign for the project was completed in June 2010. See the Jones & Jones portfolio.
Yakama Nation to donate materials valued at $91,000 to the Intellectual House. Read the Yakama Nation donation details.
Viewpoints magazine features the Intellectual House project in its Fall 2008 issue. Read the full Viewpoints article.
