Where UW stories begin
The Ana Mari Cauce Welcome Center will sit at a crossroads of community, history and culture.
Discover more about the Welcome Center’s programs and activities, and take a look around the neighborhood.
Programs and activities
Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors journey to the UW’s campus in Seattle. More than a gathering space, the Welcome Center will be a “home for every Husky.”
Experiences for everyone
The Welcome Center will invite all — visitors, students, educators, neighbors, families, fans and friends — to step onto campus and get to know the University of Washington.
- Start at the Welcome Center for personalized guidance about what you can discover on a visit to the UW
- Immerse yourself in exhibits about education and innovation on campus today, and more than 165 years (and counting!) of knowledge, discovery and service for Washington and the world
- Learn how the UW’s teaching, research, arts and culture, and many other contributions connect to your life and what you care about
- Network, connect and engage in conversations during events, such as lectures, author talks and more
Admissions and campus tours
The Welcome Center will be a starting point for prospective students and families to see how their future can begin right here at the UW.
- Find admissions information, financial aid guidance and ways to connect with the UW community
- Take a campus tour — when the Welcome Center is open, the expanded capacity will allow the UW to triple the number of student-led tours each year, thanks to weekend hours, flexible event space and a spacious auditorium
- Stop in for an informal meet-and-greet, swing by on a school field trip, or ask questions about what it’s like to attend the UW
Connect with alumni and community
The Welcome Center will invite all to visit, connect and celebrate, again and again. This dynamic gathering space will also be a long-awaited campus home for the University’s more than 600,000 alumni and UW Alumni Association members.
- Gather and enjoy an energetic space alongside students, faculty, fans, friends and fellow alumni from every campus, school and college
- Enjoy more than 100 signature events every year, hosted by the UW Alumni Association
- Extend your UW knowledge through events, service and community connections
- Activate the full power of the Husky alumni network — find out how the UW invests in alumni for life through career networking, mentorship, community connections, and more
- Be part of reunions, game-day festivities, and on-campus celebrations
Honoring the UW's 33rd president
The Welcome Center’s name and mission honor Ana Mari Cauce, who led the University for 10 years as its 33rd president.
Commemorating Cauce’s more than 40 years of service to the University of Washington, in 2025 the Board of Regents named her president emerita. Today, Cauce continues her service as a professor at the UW and remains a strong, welcoming advocate for all who want to be part of the UW community.
“This Welcome Center means so much to me. When I first came to the UW nearly 40 years ago, I was welcomed into this generous community with open arms. This center will carry that message to everyone. I am deeply honored to be a part of that ongoing story.”
The power of place
The Welcome Center will be located at an iconic entrance in the northwest corner of the UW’s campus in Seattle.
Adjacent to the Welcome Center, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture connects us to Washington’s shared history and culture. To the north, the tree-lined streets of University Heights hum with student life. To the west, the University District thrives as a vibrant hub of food, art and entertainment, and it’s where University Book Store has long served as an intellectual cornerstone for students, faculty and the wider community.
A new place to start
The Ana Mari Cauce Welcome Center’s building and grounds will be a single starting point to welcome and inspire visitors as they discover opportunities across the University.
Conceptual illustrations: Studio Tsien Architects; Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates