North Campus Housing

The University of Washington's LEED Gold-certified North Campus Housing neighborhood extends an historic campus fabric by weaving together four buildings and accompanying landscapes on a previously isolated and heavily sloped part of campus. The residences create a vibrant living-learning community for upwards of 2,000 students, fostering engagement and connection through dining, instruction, meeting, and recreation spaces. The neighborhood bustles with an intramural field, various student lounges, a student information help center, learning resource and tutoring center, classrooms, 300-person conference and event space, and an innovation learning lab.

Whole Building LCA Assessment via Tally® was used throughout the project informing and confirming structural system approach (wood-framed 5-over-2 construction), as well as facade elements (western red cedar rainscreen cladding). The construction reduced demolition and new construction waste materials by at least 50%.

The design process entailed a deep study of wood weathering patterns and drivers, and rainscreen detailing was guided by anticipation of that—acknowledging that the western red cedar is a natural material and to best set up long-term success both in terms of aesthetics and limited maintenance. This material's transparent supply chain allowed us to confirm labor practices were ethical and non-exploitative.