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

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

  1. Suzzallo Library
    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
  2. Denny Hall
    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
  3. University of Washington Quad
    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
  4. Gerberding Hall
    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
  5. Odegaard Undergraduate Library
    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

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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