University of Washington School of Business

Architect: LMN Architects

Name of School: University of Washington

Year Built: 2010 (completed)

Client: University of Washington Business school

City and Country: Seattle, Washington, USA

The University of Washington's School of Business building is designed with education in mind. The first thing that comes to mind is the U-shaped auditoriums that direct students to face each other and interact in student-to-student discussion which promotes teamwork and relationship building. There are also study rooms for students to further collaborate outside of the classroom. The atrium that runs the length of the building creates a community area for events and for people to meet each other. The glass walls create a confusion about where inside ends and outside begins allowing the users to feel comfortable engaging in activities other than quietly studying. It also makes the space feel larger than it really is. This is a space for activity. There are also several floating elements to the building but I'm not sure what that says about the educational value to the building. The cafe offers food to students, faculty, and staff allowing them to remain on site for long periods of time during group projects or work. The multiple different areas and themes allow people to move around to get a sense of being in a different place without actually leaving the building.