February 15, 2007
University receives 38 proposals for UW Tower space
The stack of proposals is about 4 inches thick — ideas from 38 UW units interested in space in the recently purchased UW Tower, or space that might become available on the Seattle campus if a unit moved all or part of itself to the tower.
“I am very pleased with the response,” said Marilyn Cox, assistant vice provost for capital planning. “I think it’s a very robust pool of interesting proposals.”
Proposals were due the end of January. Most colleges and schools, as well as a number of administrative units, submitted ideas. A University planning committee of administrators, faculty members and student representatives will draw its recommendations from three categories of space: UW administrative offices, the proposals from campus units, and from space the UW leases in the Seattle area.
At its Feb. 27 meeting, the committee will discuss criteria for making space recommendations. Key goals include moving some administrative offices from the Seattle campus, freeing additional space for teaching and research.
Much, however, depends on whether the state Legislature allots $10 million for operations and maintenance of the Tower properties. The more money from the state, the more chance that centrally-funded programs can occupy the space rather than self-sustaining ones. By the end of March, Cox said, the University “will have a pretty good idea how we’re doing in Olympia.
“We will definitely fill the property, and have had a significant amount of interest from the campus, but the real issue is still whether we will get funding from the state,” she said. “If we’re not successful, we may have to lease some space to third parties to help pay for the property.”
The tower includes about 500,000 square feet of available space. Proposals from all UW units total about 597,000 square feet of Tower space. The University would like to consolidate about 300,000 square feet of the 1.2 million square feet leased in the Seattle area. A $32 million data center will occupy 35,000 to 40,000 square feet, and as part of seeking state funding, a predesign study for the center has been completed.
The University’s Executive Committee — President Mark Emmert, Provost Phyllis Wise and Executive Vice President Weldon Ihrig — will consider the committee’s recommendations, with Wise making space assignments, probably in July.
Along with the tower building, UW Tower properties include five other buildings, two parking garages and two surface lots, plus the International House of Pancakes restaurant, which has indicated it will leave when its lease is up in May. The most visible portion of the property, the former Safeco Tower, is on the corner of Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and Northeast 45th Street. The 22-story structure is mostly open office space, with the top floor including expansive views, executive finishes and a board room.
The University has hired Donald King & Associates, a Seattle architectural firm, to help with facilities and space planning.
Move-in is scheduled for early 2008, after Safeco moves out.
No matter who moves, however, UW Tower decisions will be important, said Cox. “Space is one of the most sensitive issues that we deal with on the campus.”
More information about UW Tower is available at the Tower web site: http://www.washington.edu/admin/pb/UW-Tower/index.htm
