University of Washington Began $231 Million Chemistry Facility
The project will provide modern laboratories to replace space in the 1937-era Bagley Hall by 2029.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Chemistry
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The University of Washington has broken ground on a new $231.1 million chemistry sciences facility in Seattle. The five-story, 104,500-square-foot building is designed to support the institution's research and instruction requirements.
Why it matters
The project aims to improve workforce training and attract researchers by providing updated laboratory infrastructure. It also enables a future, full renovation of the aging Bagley Hall.
The new five-story, 104,500-square-foot facility is designed to support a department of 275 staff and faculty, alongside 985 undergraduate majors and 320 graduate researchers who managed $28 million in funding in 2025.
The players
University of Washington
A public research university in Seattle that manages significant science and engineering departments.
Skanska
A global construction and development firm serving as a lead on the design-build project team.
Payette
An architecture firm specializing in complex science and healthcare facilities.
EHDD
An architecture and design firm focused on academic and laboratory environments.
The details
The facility is being executed through a design-build delivery model, where the design and construction services are integrated under a single contract with Skanska, Payette, and EHDD. This approach aims to streamline the development of modern laboratory spaces that the department lacked in its original 1937 facility. Funding for the $231.1 million project is provided through a mix of state appropriations, university funds, and private donations.
Timeline
1937: Bagley Hall was built.
2025: The chemistry department managed $28 million in research funding.
Spring 2025: The Interdisciplinary Engineering Building opened.
September 30, 2026: The university held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility.
2029: The new chemistry facility is scheduled to open.
The Tech Race
This project represents a significant campus expansion following the recent opening of the 72,000-square-foot Interdisciplinary Engineering Building. It mirrors broader efforts among major research universities to modernize physical infrastructure to remain competitive for top-tier science talent.
The new facility will provide expanded laboratory space for students and researchers once it opens in 2029. It will eventually enable the renovation of Bagley Hall, which has served the department since 1937.
The takeaway
The university is prioritizing modernized laboratory space to support its growing department of over 1,300 students and staff. Observers should track the 2029 opening date to see how the additional 104,500 square feet impacts departmental research output.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in lab infrastructure and academic research in Chemistry.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GeekWire.
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