Overview

The University of Washington's campus power generating plant has been in the same location since 1909. It burned coal delivered via the Northern Pacific railroad tracks running nearby from 1909 until 1970, when the school switched from coal to fuel oil.

Building History

This building was designed to be the permanent power plant for the University of Washington and renovated many times over the years. For most of its existence, the power plant burned coal, delivered to the university via train (the tracks of which became the Burke-Gilman Trail). In 1959-1960, a large renovation occurred that greatly expanded the plant's capacity.

It was referred to as the "UW Power Plant" after 1957.

Alteration

According to a University of Washington Special Collections website: "Major additions were made in 1922, 1935, 1950, 1960, 1962, 1965, and 1969. The Power House was referred to as the Power Plant after 1957." (See University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections.edu, "Construction project, possibly addition to the Power Plant, University of Washington, Seattle, March 6, 1959," accessed 08/27/2022.) Other sources indicated that it was altered in 1923, 1935, 1939, 1950, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1969 and 1978.

An explosion occurred at the UW Power House #2 in 1950 or 1951.

In 1972, a utility tunnel was built to connect the power plant to a location east of the University of Washington Hospital. Julie Emery, writing in the Seattle Times in 01/1972, said of this tunnel: "Work is also expected to begin in June on a 2,000-foot, $2.5 million utility tunnel running from the central power plant to the east end of the University Hospital." (See Julie Emery, "U.W. beginning last big year of rapid capital expansion," Seattle Times, 01/02/1972, p, F2.)

Emery also noted planning for the creation of an underground fuel-oil tank near the power plant in 01/1972. She stated: "April is the scheduled starting date for a fuel-oil storage tank for the central power plant, to be built underground in the northeast campus hillside neat the Mechanical Engineering Building. The $400,000 tank will hold 30,000 to 35,000 barrels of oil. The university switched from coal to oil as its major fuel two years ago and now operates with a small tank south of the power plant." She also noted that a chilling compressor would be installed at the central power plant: "A $250,000 steam-operated chilling compressor will be built in the power plant. It will chill water and then circulate it through the campus building systems. Some $600,000 also will be spent next year in remodeling Health Sciences units." (See Julie Emery, "U.W. beginning last big year of rapid capital expansion," Seattle Times, 01/02/1972, p, F2.)

In 1972-1973, an underground fuel tank was installed near the power plant. The Seattle Times wrote in 01/1973: "Work will continue until April on the $580,000 underground storage tank adjoining the power plant."(See Julie Emery, “U.W. construction to dip,” Seattle Times, 01/25/1973, p. F7.)