On a hilly site at the University of Washington, TenBerke and Mahlum Architects will deliver an all-electric residence and wellness center. Haggett Hall is one of several campus buildings by TenBerke underway around the country, including ventures at Yale University and Smith College.
Haggett Hall will rise 9 stories, encompass 230,000 square feet, and cost about $165 million. It will replace University of Washington’s original Haggett Hall—completed in 1963 by Kirk, Wallace, McKinley and Associates—that was condemned and permanently closed in 2021, and recently demolished.
The new Haggett Hall will be built in situ and house 800 students. Its construction will mark an important step toward developing University of Washington’s north campus in Seattle, completed by the Olmsted Brothers in 1909.
From east to west, the site TenBerke and Mahlum Architects is working with slopes down 45 feet. The architects fully embraced the site’s topography: Much of the U-shaped, 9-story structure is nestled within the ridge. An attractive, bespoke stair will connect the ridge’s upper level with the landscaped courtyard below.
The residential complex will be oriented north-south to maximize natural light access. Renderings show the bottom stories of Haggett Hall expressed differently than the upper floors. A ribbed concrete block base supports the facade clad in narrow, elongated brick above. The base’s rough surface is meant to evoke Seattle’s mountainous landscape.
From dormitory windows, first- and second-year students will soon enjoy amazing views of Lake Washington and the North Cascades. Serpentine pathways will meander throughout the 1.5-acre site, helping activate University of Washington’s north campus.
Anne Schopf, a senior principal at Mahlum Architects, said in a statement that Haggett Hall’s design embodies the principles of biophilia. “With access to nature at its core and framed by the two wings, residents are continually connected to natural systems,” Schopf said. “Whether walking through the forest courtyard, looking out their window into the arboreal layer, or enjoying distant views of the Cascade Range, students receive restorative energy that enhances their well-being.”
“This project expands our understanding of sustainability. It will achieve high standards in energy consumption and carbon reduction, to be sure,” added Maitland Jones, a senior principal at TenBerke. “Moreover, by emphasizing community and well‑being, by so thoroughly integrating a dramatic and vigorous site and GGN’s landscape design, and by carefully coordinating an embedded wellness program, it should be understood to be socially sustainable as well.”
The building is slated for completion in 2027 and is targeting LEED Gold.
