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Building History

Following a serious earthquake that struck Seattle in 1965, the University of Washington seized on the opportunity to leverage recovery funding to reshape the heart of its campus. The UW had long wanted to demolish the decrepit Meany Hall #1, the former Auditorium of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, whose structure was seriously weakened by the quake, and this event provided the opportunity. Campus administrators unveiled an ambitious project to build three new buildings in the vicinity of the majestic Suzzallo Library and the retardataire Gothic Administration Building, all of which were supported by an underground parking garage able to accommodate 1,000 automobiles. (See "University Developing a Hole in Its Heart and Tired Eardrums" Seattle Sunday Times, 09/07/1969, Real Estate & Industry section, p. 6B.) The garage would be topped by a brick-faced plaza, reminiscent of an Italian piazza, from which would rise three towers that would vent automobile exhaust out of the garage. The John H. Sellen Construction Company had the contract for the excavation of the garage and its construction. (See Polly Lane, "University Developing a Hole in Its Heart and Tired Eardrums" Seattle Sunday Times, 09/07/1969, Real Estate & Industry section, p. 6B.)

The first two buildings on what would become perversely nicknamed "Red Square" would be a new undergraduate library and a large lecture hall. The third building sharing space on the piazza would be a replacement auditorium and theatre, Meany Hall #2.

Building Notes

Architectural historian Norman Johnston observed about the library: "Sheathed in brick veneer, it has an interesting exterior whose forms, shades and shadows reflect its internal organization of study carrels." (See Norman J. Johnston, Campus Guide University of Washington, [New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2001], p. 48.)

Two state-of-the-art Active Learning Classrooms are being built in Odegaard Library (available Autumn 2013), providing educators with a unique opportunity to explore how space and technology can promote student learning. The Active Learning Classrooms are located on the 1st floor of Odegaard Library. ALC 136 has a capacity of 90 students and ALC 141 has a capacity of 63 students.

Alteration

Renovation of the Odegaard Library into the Odegaard Learning Center (OLC) occurred between 2012 and 2013. Miller-Hull Architects was be the architect of record for the remodeling, while Mortenson Construction served as General Contractor and Construction Manager.

The library closed to students and the public at the end of Spring Quarter 2012, 06/08/2012. The work needed to be completed by 06/30/2013 at a cost of $16.575 million. Major alterations were planned, including the removal of central atrium stairs, and the main entrance's relocation from the east to the south side. Miller Hull designed two state-of-the-art Active Learning Classrooms, "providing educators with a unique opportunity to explore how space and technology can promote student learning. The Active Learning Classrooms are located on the 1st floor of Odegaard Library. ALC 136 has a capacity of 90 students and ALC141 has a capacity of 63 students." (Email from Amanda Hornby to UW Librarians, 03/20/2013.)

The renovation of Odegaard earned Miller Hull an American Institute of Architects 2014 Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture.

PCAD id: 8208