UW Founders Hall
Seattle, WA
The first fully mass timber classroom building designed to create highly interactive, flexible, and adaptable social spaces to meet the evolving needs of Seattle's premier University
Estimated to achieve a 70 percent reduction in energy consumption over its first 60 years
Achieved a 76% reduction in embodied carbon through the use of alternative building materials
Greater than 50% reduction in water use compared to a code building
The first building campus to incorporate cross-laminated timber (CLT)
Targeting LEED Gold©
The native and adapted landscape uses limited water for irrigation and creates great views of nature from the stairs and classrooms. The mostly transparent exterior exposes the wood interior connecting the inside to the outside.
The open mass-timber-framed stairs show of the beauty of the wood and promote activity and connection.
The opening of the five-story, 85,000 sq. ft. Founders Hall in the fall of 2022 culminates the planned expansion of the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington (UW), located in Seattle. The first fully mass timber classroom building was designed to create highly interactive, flexible, and adaptable social spaces to meet the school’s evolving needs. Founders Hall features research centers, program and career services offices, as well as interaction, event, and amenity spaces. According to the University of Washington, Founders Hall is one of the greenest buildings on campus and is estimated to achieve a 70 percent reduction in energy consumption over its first 60 years, achieved a 76% reduction in embodied carbon through the use of alternative building materials, and a greater than 50% reduction in water use
compared to a code building. Founders Hall is the first building on the UW campus to incorporate cross-laminated timber (CLT), an engineered wood with the structural strength, stability, and durability to rival steel and concrete in its construction.
O'Brien360 provided integrated services to the project team including LEED project management for the design-build team and energy modeling for the mechanical designer, in conjunction with our role as UW Sustainability Manager. Founders Hall is targeting LEED Gold.
For additional information on this project, please see the online case study