Founders Hall, Foster School of Business
University of Washington

Location

Seattle, Washington

Owner

University of Washington

Collaborators +

Project Size

84,750 square feet

Project Status

Completed

Certifications

Certified LEED New Construction Gold

Services

Architecture, Interior Design, Planning

Part of the larger Foster School of Business complex, the new Founders Hall greatly expands the business school’s capacity while improving the connection to the heart of historic Denny Yard. The project is the first fully mass timber building on campus and embraces the University of Washington Green Building Standards; reducing carbon emissions by over 90%.

The building design creates an intersection of three volumes hosting student-focused team collaboration spaces, administrative program offices, lecture halls, and gathering spaces, all connected by a five-story steel and wood feature stair. The community connector houses the feature wood stair, circulation spaces, and two tiered classrooms. The team bar provides plentiful team and conference rooms along with a rooftop event forum. Its peeled-away brick façade paired with carefully placed glazing exposes the timber inside the building while providing views of the site’s historical Douglas firs, giving the higher floors of the building an immersive experience with the northwest forest character of the site.

Founders Hall reflects the highly social character of business in the new century and aspires to be a sustainable building that will inspire future generations of business leaders.