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Overview

According to the University of Washington's web site describing the Life Sciences Building, the new faciliity was designed for the Department of Biology and would expand its research capacities, improve collaborative teaching and inquiry, and enable it to attract talented students and faculty nationally. It stated: "The new Life Sciences Building (LSB) will provide modern research and instructional space for the Department of Biology...so that it can 1) recruit more faculty to meet undergraduate student demand and retain a world-class faculty whose innovative research is the engine of scientific discovery, 2) provide open, flexible, modular, high-density labs ideally suited to the collaborative, interdisciplinary research that is not met by the current Biology buildings, and 3) educate and train the current generation of undergraduates in state-of-the-art research methods working side by side with faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. The new LSB and greenhouse offers Biology and its faculty the opportunity to take its truly integrated approach to biology and its highly collaborative culture to a new level." (See University of Washington.edu, "Life Sciences Building," accessed 09/06/2018.)

Building History

The University of Washington's new Life Sciences Building (LSB) replaced greenhouses and ancillary structures that lined what was a narrow, sloping site, perched just above the Burke-Gilman Trail. Administrators selected the thin parcel for the LSB as it provided proximity to other science buildings in the area and rapid connection to the Health Sciences complex across Pacific Street. According to the UW, "Both the LSB and Greenhouse are positioned on the site to optimize with the building program and minimize the impact to significant deodara cedars along Stevens Way and trees in the woodland grove to the east." (See University of Washington,edu, "Life Sciences Building," accessed 09/06/2018.)

The Seattle branch of the architectural firm of Perkins and Will served as the architect for the LSB; they produced a long, linear plan with five stories, with an array of greenhouses lined up below to the southeast. Foundation work began in 08/2016. Structural work on the exterior extended from 04/2017 until 08/2017. with interior finishing occurring between 04/2017 and 05/2018. Site work and landscaping happened between 04/2018 and 08/2018. The building was to be occupied by 09/2018.

For the UW, Troy Stahlecker, Sr., served as the Project Manager for the LSB, and Greg Wojcicki, Construction Manager. Devin Kleiner was Perkins and Will's Project Manager on the LSB.

The LSB showcased several notable new technologies, inlcuding the use of a chilled beam/radiant floor heat HVAC system and photovoltaic fins that generate solar energy and shade south-facing windows from bright, direct sunlight in summer and cold breezes in winter.

Building Notes

The LSB had five floors above ground and two below, enclosing 167,000 gross square feet. Another 20,000-square-foot greenhouse was positioned to the LSB's southeast. The first floor originally contained four research/teaching laboratories. The upper four levels had modular layouts providing space for 10 labs per floor. The building's south sides on the upper floors were set aside for offices. The two basement areas accommodated growth chambers and other research facilities. Greenhouses were designed in concert with the rest of the building and viewed as linked to the teaching that went on with the LSB.

PCAD id: 20716