April 12, 2017

Starbucks coming to Suzzallo at UW

Image by Starbucks Coffee Co. [enlarge]

University of Washington students will have a new reason to hit the library next fall: to get their Starbucks fix.

The local coffee giant will build a full-service store in a 4,000-square-foot space at Suzzallo Library that formerly housed Suzzallo Espresso.

The cafe will seat 120 people and serve its full line of food and beverages, including cold coffee on tap and specialty coffees roasted at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery on Capitol Hill.

Work is slated to begin this spring and wrap up in time for the fall quarter.

Suzzallo Library is a 91-year-old Collegiate Gothic structure in the heart of campus, popular with students and faculty as a place to study and do research. Its cathedral-like reading room also attracts visitors.

In a news release, the university said a Starbucks store design team worked closely with UW "to develop a design that would honor the integrity and heritage of the library, while meeting the growing needs of the campus community."

Centennial Contractors Enterprises is the general contractor.

The store will be the second Starbucks on campus, joining one that opened at the Husky Union Building in 2015.

UW Housing & Food Services will operate both locations. A total of 20 espresso bars are available on campus, according to the UW website.

The university said the new store builds on a partnership with Starbucks to hire UW interns and graduates, and support student veterans and military spouses.