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May 4, 2026

WASHINGTON: Exterior Commercial

Photo by Alyssa Acheson [enlarge]
The project’s highly articulated façade system incorporates five distinct façade types and five different substructure attachment methods.

UWMC Behavioral Health Teaching Facility

Location: 1550 N. 115th St, Seattle

Contractor: Performance Contracting

Architect: SRG Partnership

Labor partners: Western States Carpenters; Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association

UWMC Behavioral Health Teaching Facility, a six-story, 191,000-square-foot medical and teaching facility, is located at the University of Washington Medical Center Northwest Campus in Seattle.

The project is a major addition to the existing campus, and provides expanded inpatient behavioral health services, teaching spaces, conference facilities, and support functions, including a campus kitchen and facilities management areas. SRG Partnership and Performance Contracting contributed to the design and construction of this complex institutional facility.

The project is notable for its highly articulated façade system, which incorporates five distinct façade types and five different substructure attachment methods. PCI was engaged early in the project and provided preconstruction review, design coordination, and BIM collaboration to ensure framing, attachment, and sequencing requirements were fully resolved prior to installation.

PCI’s scope included interior and exterior metal stud framing, exterior sheathing, weather and air barriers, thermal and batt insulation, spray-applied and intumescent fireproofing, acoustical ceilings, and exterior façade assemblies consisting of metal panels, cementitious panels, terracotta panels and custom aluminum fins.

A significant challenge was managing the complexity and volume of custom façade components while maintaining quality and schedule. Through an extensive shop drawing and preconstruction process, PCI was able to order the majority of façade materials in the exact sizes needed, minimizing field cutting and improving installation efficiency.

These included more than 10,000 terracotta panels, over 3,700 metal panels, nearly 500 cementitious panels, and more than 1,000 custom aluminum fins. Exterior access was constrained due to ongoing site work. This required the use of swing stages, with their attendant weight limitations. In response, PCI fabricated custom material hoists and utilized parapet-mounted lifting systems. This allowed materials to be staged efficiently and safely without interrupting installation workflows.

The judges recognized the technical complexity of the façade systems and applauded the logistical solutions of the build team. The project team successfully delivered a high-quality exterior that has integrated seamlessly with the existing campus and will serve the community for years to come.


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