April 22, 2025

UW taps Lewis as design-builder for its new $61M ‘front door'

Image from UW website [enlarge]

The welcome center will be built along Northeast 45th Street beside the Burke Museum, not far from the big bronze “W” on Memorial Way.

The University of Washington selected Lease Crutcher Lewis from three design-builder finalists to build a new welcome center next to the Burke Museum along Northeast 45th Street between Memorial Way and 15th Avenue Northeast.

A notice of UW's plans to award the project to Lewis pending negotiation ran in Friday's DJC. UW is using the design-build alternative public works contracting procedure for this project, meaning Lewis and the university will work collaboratively to select the design architect and other team members, according to the request for qualifications. The plan is to solicit for an architect this month.

“We're thrilled to once again partner with UW on what promises to be an iconic addition to campus and a signature building for Lewis,” said Joe Nielsen, director of operations for Lease Crutcher Lewis and the UW Welcome Center's project lead. “This opportunity is a testament to the work of our current and past project teams on campus during the past decade. We're incredibly proud of that legacy and can't wait to get started on a project that will engage many generations of students and families, alumni and community members.”

The estimated $61.4 million project has a targeted design-build contract budget of $45 million to build the 30,000 to 33,000-square-foot building at the northwest corner of UW's historic campus core, a popular campus entry point.

UW wants the building to serve as its new front door, welcoming prospective students, visitors and alumni. It will be the starting point for tours and other admissions programming now housed in the HUB, and will become the permanent campus home for the university's 600,000 alumni, housing the UW Alumni Association's programs, services and activities. The UW also envisions an auditorium for public events and lectures and social space for casual gatherings, according to the RFQ.

“The university has a unique opportunity to fulfill its mission of bringing together current and future students, parents, alumni and visitors in a community-facing space which supports the admissions experience, tells the university's story of impact, ignites curiosity, and evokes a sense of place, pride and belonging,” the RFQ introduction said.

Enabling and construction is scheduled to begin in February of 2026, with closeout slated to be complete by May of 2029, per the RFQ.

Related Stories:

• 3 firms vie for $45M UW welcome center job  03-07-2025