U-Dub
University of Washington
Architect Carl Gould laid out the Liberal Arts Quadrangle in 1915, and its Collegiate Gothic halls are lined with thirty Yoshino cherry trees that bloom between mid-March and early April.
- 6Buildings
- 4Traditions
- 1895Oldest · Denny Hall
- 1972Newest · Odegaard Undergraduate Library
Campus map and Look Around
Tap a numbered pin to see that building from the street with Apple Look Around.
Planning the visit
- Fly intoSeattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Sea-Tac sits south of Seattle. Link light rail runs from the airport straight to University of Washington station, next to Husky Stadium.
- Getting aroundWalking / Link light rail
Link light rail stops at University of Washington station by Husky Stadium. From there the central campus, from Red Square to the Quad, is an easy walk.
- Colors and teams
The university is 'U-Dub' to almost everyone, and the red-brick Central Plaza is always called Red Square.
6 buildings to stamp
-

Photo: Martin Kraft, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Suzzallo Library
Suzzallo Library, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
The Collegiate Gothic façade of Suzzallo dominates Red Square, and its Graduate Reading Room is one of the most photographed rooms in Seattle. The architects planned a 300-foot bell tower that was never built.
- Built
- 1926
- Architect
- Charles H. Bebb and Carl F. Gould
- Style
- Collegiate Gothic
- Today
- University library
-

Photo: clpo13 at Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Denny Hall
Denny Hall, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
Built of brick and sandstone in 1894–95, Denny Hall is the oldest building on the current campus. It is named after Seattle pioneer Arthur A. Denny.
- Built
- 1895
- Architect
- Charles Saunders
- Style
- French Renaissance Revival
- Today
- Classrooms and offices
-

Photo: Punctured Bicycle, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons University of Washington Quad
Liberal Arts Quadrangle, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
The Liberal Arts Quadrangle is UW's trademark: brick Gothic halls framing a lawn lined with thirty Yoshino cherry trees. Carl Gould drew its layout in 1915, though it was not finished until 1950.
- Built
- 1950
- Architect
- Carl F. Gould
- Style
- Collegiate quadrangle
- Today
- Campus quadrangle
-

Photo: Steve Morgan (of Portland, Oregon), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Gerberding Hall
1704 NE Grant Lane, Seattle, WA 98195
The first major building raised on campus after World War II, this Collegiate Gothic hall on Red Square was built for the university's administrative offices in 1949.
- Built
- 1949
- Architect
- Victor N. Jones and John T. Jacobsen
- Style
- Collegiate Gothic
- Today
- Academic building
-

Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Odegaard Undergraduate Library
Odegaard Undergraduate Library, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
A Brutalist library at the corner of Red Square, built together with the parking garage beneath the plaza. Its 2013 interior renovation won an AIA Institute Honor Award.
- Built
- 1972
- Architect
- Kirk, Wallace & McKinley
- Style
- Brutalist
- Today
- Undergraduate library and learning commons
-
Henry Art Gallery
4100 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Founded in 1927 as the first public art museum in Washington state, the Henry sits on the west edge of campus. Bebb and Gould designed the original building, and Gwathmey Siegel expanded it in 1997.
- Built
- 1927
- Architect
- Bebb and Gould; Gwathmey Siegel & Associates (1997 expansion)
- Style
- Collegiate Gothic
- Today
- Contemporary art museum
4 traditions to check off
Stamped! keeps these as a checklist, so you can tick each one off on the visit.
Cherry Blossoms in the Quad
Visiting the Yoshino cherry trees in the Quad when they bloom each spring is a must-do UW tradition. Expect crowds of students and visitors taking photos at peak bloom.
Rainier Vista
The view down Rainier Vista past Drumheller Fountain is protected so nothing can block Mount Rainier from Red Square. On a clear day, stand at the top for the best view on campus.
Sylvan Grove Columns
Four cedar columns from the UW's first downtown building stand in Sylvan Grove and represent loyalty, industry, faith and efficiency. New students touch one when they arrive and again at graduation; visitors can see them in the grove.
The Wave at Husky Stadium
UW says the famous stadium wave began at Husky Stadium during a 1981 football game. Join in when it rolls around the stands on game day.
Know University of Washington well?
Students and alumni know the traditions best. Suggest one we're missing, a building worth a stamp, or a fix. Every suggestion is checked against a source before it goes into the app.
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Stamp all 6 on your visit.
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