Community and connections
Creating a Welcome Center at the University of Washington that invites everyone in — from tomorrow’s students, to generations of alumni, to community members from near and far — requires collaboration and trust.
Here are some of the people and partnerships that are helping to advance this defining moment as the Welcome Center takes shape at the University.
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Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Each year, tens of thousands of visitors come to the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture to engage with the museum’s natural history and culture collections — learning from UW researchers, Indigenous and Tribal partners, artists and educators.
As close neighbors in the northwest corner of the UW Seattle campus, the Welcome Center and the Burke Museum will have new opportunities to engage with each of these communities through proximity and partnership. Just as the Burke connects us to our shared history and culture, so, too, the Welcome Center will invite us into conversation about our present and future.
The Burke Museum is scheduled to remain open to visitors throughout construction of the Welcome Center. Learn more about the Welcome Center and the Burke Museum’s shared connections.
Architects and Design-Build Team
Studio Tsien
Following a national search, the UW’s Architectural Commission selected the internationally acclaimed architects of Studio Tsien to design the Ana Mari Cauce Welcome Center. Commission members were impressed by Studio Tsien’s distinguished experience designing public buildings, its creative approach and its leaders’ commitment to authentic collaboration. The firm’s work evokes deep sensory, emotional and transformative designs that reflect the values of the institution.
Founding partner and design principal Billie Tsien is an award-winning architect and founding partner of Studio Tsien and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (TWBTA). Throughout her career, she has focused on designing enduring spaces for cultural and academic institutions. Her work includes projects at Princeton, the University of Chicago and the Obama Presidential Center. Tsien is also the Eero Saarinen Visiting Professor of Architectural Design at Yale University and vice president for architecture of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
We are thrilled to be a part of this project which at its heart is about welcome. We all need to feel welcome in order to be curious and to learn. Together we will design a building that is a physical embodiment of UW’s vision: a place that inspires, connects and empowers generations to come.
Campus Architecture & Planning
A unit of UW Facilities, Campus Architecture & Planning (CAP) provides vision, leadership, and oversight to guide development of the University’s built environment. As thoughtful partners in bringing the Welcome Center to campus, these experts are guiding the project’s approach to land use and development decisions, design excellence, public art, space management, infrastructure management and responsible stewardship of resources. CAP’s executive director and university landscape architect, Kristine Kenney, has shaped the long-term vision for the UW’s three campuses. Her leadership is evident in projects such as South Rainier Vista, North Campus Housing, Bothell Residential Village, and Tacoma’s Prairie Line Trail.
Lease Crutcher Lewis
Lease Crutcher Lewis is partnering with the architects and design teams to help the UW the Welcome Center project to life. Lewis is a Seattle-based general contractor with a legacy of building in the Pacific Northwest since 1886. As an employee-owned firm, Lewis is defined by a culture of accountability, collaboration, and craftsmanship.
The Miller Hull Partnership
The Miller Hull Partnership is a Seattle-based, local architecture partner for the Welcome Center. Recognized for its commitments to sustainability, Miller Hull has worked on many other building and landscape projects at the UW, including the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health and the Conibear Shellhouse & Student Athletic Center.
Studio Joseph
As the Welcome Center’s exhibition and storytelling partner, Studio Joseph is working closely with stakeholders throughout the UW community to create inspiring, memorable experiences that bring the University’s history, achievements and impact to life. Globally recognized and based in New York, Studio Joseph is led by visionary architect Wendy Evans Joseph, who brings her deep passion for art, culture and public education as she sets the vision for the studio’s projects.
UW Office of Admissions
For many students and families, a campus visit is one of the most influential factors in the college decision-making process. Each year, the UW Office of Admissions welcomes thousands of prospective students and families, helping future Huskies learn about the UW’s academic community, traditions and transformative opportunities.
The Welcome Center will be the new starting point for students and families to begin their UW journey, and the UW Office of Admissions will be their guide.
By recruiting, admitting and enrolling undergraduate first-year, transfer, international and postbaccalaureate students, the UW Office of Admissions does the important work of connecting students from Washington, the United States and around the world with the value of a UW education. The Office of Admissions is committed to creating a Welcome Center that provides an exceptional first impression and ensure future students and families feel informed, welcomed and inspired from the moment they arrive.
The experience of being on campus helps students see themselves at UW and understand the opportunities available to them here. To effectively recruit and enroll the next generation of Huskies, we’re creating a Welcome Center that matches the caliber of the University of Washington.
UW Alumni Association
The Welcome Center will be inextricably connected to the mission of the University of Washington Alumni Association (UWAA) — to support higher education in the state of Washington and the University of Washington.
Founded in 1889 as an independent nonprofit organization, UWAA has been celebrating graduates and friends for more than 130 years. Alumni were among the earliest investors in the vision for the Welcome Center — UWAA’s contributions of $5 million have helped drive momentum toward opening the Welcome Center’s doors to the community.
The Welcome Center will also be a permanent campus home where the university’s more than 600,000 alums and UWAA members will always be welcome to return, time and again. Paul Rucker, UW vice president for alumni and stakeholder engagement, is the latest steward of the Welcome Center project, carrying forward the transformational vision of generations of alumni and UW leaders.
For students and alumni of the University, it’s important to build the type of environment that creates a sense of belonging.
UW Visitor Center
Starting in 2028, the Welcome Center will provide an elevated experience for anyone who wants to visit and explore the Seattle campus.
The University of Washington Visitor Center welcomes thousands of visitors each year, helping them navigate campus, discover its rich history and traditions, and build meaningful connections with the University community.
Whether a prospective student, parent, alum, tourist or Seattle community member, the Visitor Center helps connect visitors with distinctive UW people, places and experiences. Knowledgeable staff provide guidance about student-led campus tours, signature events, campus landmarks and opportunities to explore both well-known destinations and hidden gems across the University.
Until the Welcome Center opens, visitors can stop by the current Visitor Center in Odegaard Undergraduate Library, or visit the website for online resources.
University Book Store
Just a block away from the future Welcome Center, University Book Store is an intellectual cornerstone for generations of UW students, faculty, alumni and the community. Student-led since 1900, this “great grandparent of all Seattle book stores,” is also a vital partner in the vision for UW’s long-anticipated Welcome Center.
An independent business that gives back all profits to UW students and staff, University Book Store will support learning events and author talks at the Welcome Center, as well as retail opportunities for visitors to grab some Husky gear and take a piece of the UW with them on their journey.
U District Partnership
Seattle’s University District offers a rich diversity of food, arts, retail and transportation options for the UW community. The Welcome Center is pleased to partner with the nonprofit U District Partnership, which provides programming, caretaking and advocacy to foster and sustain a vibrant, diverse and healthy neighborhood for the common good.
Transformational change
As the Ana Mari Cauce Welcome Center takes shape, your philanthropy can make a lasting impact.