Category: Architecture

Architecture (76)

Exterior of a historic building in Pioneer Square. Many of these will require seismic retrofits.

Seattle Weighs Costly Seismic Retrofits for Historic Brick Buildings Seattle’s historic unreinforced masonry buildings — valued for their architecture and cultural heritage — face an uncertain future as the city considers requiring seismic retrofits. More than 1,100 brick and stone structures, concentrated in neighborhoods like Pioneer Square and the … Read More

Duwamish River

CBE Faculty Lead Decarbonization Effort In a powerful example of how design can drive environmental and social change, Architecture Professors Narjes Abbasabadi and Christopher Meek of the College of Built Environments (CBE) have received a Tier 3 pilot research grant from the Population Health Initiative … Read More

In Memoriam: John Edward Mahlum FAIA (1939–2025) The College of Built Environments mourns the passing of John Edward Mahlum FAIA, a respected architect, mentor and University of Washington alumnus who died on March 20, 2025, at the age of 85. John was a second-generation architect whose … Read More

CBE Staff pose together during graduation ceremony

CBE Summer Picks & Plans Summer at CBE is a time to pause, recharge, and reconnect—with ourselves, each other, and the world around us. We asked faculty and staff to share what’s bringing them joy this season, from new hobbies and travel plans to books … Read More

Tyler Sprague showing model in final review of Onouye Studio

Tyler Sprague on Bridging Architecture, Engineering and History JSTOR Daily recently interviewed Tyler S. Sprague, associate professor and graduate program coordinator in the Department of Architecture at the University of Washington. Trained in both architecture and structural engineering, Sprague studies how these disciplines meet in late 20th- … Read More

Students building wooden structure in front of Gould Hall

Where Design Meets Structure Wood is one of the oldest materials in architecture—but today, it’s also among the most innovative. At the College of Built Environments Barry Onouye Endowed Studio, students are not just studying timber—they’re shaping its future. Through a unique collaboration with … Read More

view of Gould Court with cardboard figures

From Cardboard to Campus Benches: How ARCH 231 Turns Ideas into Built Experiences This spring, Gould Court filled with a curious crowd—not people, but full-size cardboard stand-ins. It wasn’t performance art. It was the first step in ARCH 231: Making and Craft, also known as Making and Meaning, where students move from … Read More

Seattle Waterfront

Architecture on the World Stage Three of the 54 architecture firms selected from hundreds of applicants for the U.S. Pavilion exhibition “PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity” at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale have strong ties to the Department of Architecture. These include atelierjones (founded by … Read More

bees on flower

Strength Through Community As summer quarter begins, I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the John and Rosalind Jacobi Family Endowed Dean of the College of Built Environments. It’s an honor to step into this role, and I’m … Read More