Campus Master Plan

University of Washington, Tacoma

/ Work / Campus Master Plan University of Washington Tacoma / .

The 395,000 sf, 46-acre master plan integrates adaptive re-use of 22 historic buildings with new facilities and infrastructure to transform a decaying industrial area into a thriving campus branch. The plan, completed in 1997, has been implemented in phases and the campus currently serves 3,000 students.

An underlying principle of the master plan is the physical, social and economic linkage of the campus to the surrounding city. The urban street grid is retained through the campus, dedicating some streets to pedestrian circulation and keeping other critical arterials open to vehicular traffic. To enhance commercial activity as an integral part of campus life, retail development sites are advantageously positioned at both the campus periphery and within the campus core, and essential student services (book stores, housing, food service, etc.) are delivered completely through the private sector.

While planning and designing initial campus development, LMN also worked with the City of Tacoma to develop a master plan for the downtown core, which wraps around the UWT campus. Downtown, then economically depressed, is regenerated by linking major civic projects—the campus, the waterfront, art museums and convention center— to create synergistic opportunities for private development.

Location

Tacoma, Washington

Status

Completed 1997

Size

46 Acres

Associate Architect

Moore Ruble Yudell

LMN Architects