Reimagining Anderson Hall

The opportunity is now to renovate this nearly 100-year-old UW landmark to foster environmental leadership and learning, and unleash scientific innovation to better understand and manage our world’s natural resources, near and far.

A landmark and a legacy

Anderson Hall from the air — An aerial view of Anderson Hall

Anderson Hall is the hub for the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, and plays a central role in addressing 21st-century problems facing our planet and species — yet it functions nearly the same as it did a century ago. The building lacks cutting-edge technologies and amenities, and is not accessible for all people, creating substantial obstacles to education and research.

Our goal is simple: retain Anderson Hall’s legacy of leadership and innovation by meeting the needs of the environmental and forest sciences community today. We are embarking on a campaign to renovate the Hall and extend its deep legacy for future generations — join us.

Ensuring Anderson Hall’s lasting impact

A speaker in front of an audience at Anderson Hall — Professor and researcher John Marzluff speaking to a crowd of SEFS students, faculty, and community members

Standing tall as an emblem of the University’s rich history of world-leading research and teaching in forestry and forest resources, Anderson Hall serves more than 1,000 students, faculty, postdocs and staff. Renovating Anderson Hall will ensure the community that has gathered within its walls since 1925, along with state, federal, tribal, industry and community partners, will continue to advance our fundamental understanding of:

climate adaptation and mitigation
renewable resource use
ecological restoration
wildfire management
wildlife conservation
rural economic development
healthy urban ecosystems

World class technology for world class learning

Anderson Hall serves as a place for innovation in support of forest-dependent industries and livelihoods, and culturally significant uses by diverse Western and Indigenous populations. The School offers the state’s only accredited degree programs in Forestry and in Natural Resources and Ecosystem Management, and a highly regarded accredited engineering degree program. Between 2009 and 2020, we’ve doubled enrollment in our undergraduate programs, now supporting more than 500 undergraduate and graduate students annually.

We need a space to meet the learning needs of these emerging leaders.

An inclusive and collaborative space to push boundaries of knowledge

A hallmark of the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences is its vibrant and innovative academic culture, one that supports and rewards collaboration. Through a renovation that prioritizes collaborative spaces, enhances technological facilities, addresses long-standing accessibility and safety issues, and modernizes building systems, Anderson Hall will become a welcoming, inclusive and highly productive space. Updated interiors will attract and retain new students and faculty, and support active learning and research essential for environmental leadership and problem-solving – a hub for education in the college and on campus.

A campaign to steward Anderson Hall’s history safely

A historical photograph of students working on the UW campus — College of Forestry Library interior, Anderson Hall, University of Washington, October 1948

While Anderson Hall represents more than a century of the University’s contributions to the state’s environmental, societal and economic well-being, it no longer promotes the health, safety or welfare of its occupants. Investing in Anderson Hall infrastructure will change that, and we welcome your support to do so.

To learn more about the campaign for Anderson Hall, please contact Kathleen Phan, senior director of advancement: katphan@uw.edu, 206.221.6372, or Danna Bowers, associate director of corporate and foundation relations: dbower@uw.edu, 206.221.4573

Schedule

Design & permit	January 2023 – June 2024
Construction	July 2024 – December 2025
Occupancy	Winter Quarter 2026

Budget

State Bldg./Const. Account 09-11	$200,000
Central Equity (Provost)	$2,950,000
Unit Equity (College of the Environment)	$9,000,000
State Capital Request 23-25	$28,650,000
Total Project Cost	$40,800,000

Renovation and floor plans

Renovating Anderson Hall will allow the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences to:

maintain competitive excellence in instruction, research and recruitment
provide world-class, internationally recognized knowledge and leadership on environmental and natural resources issues
support modern pedagogies and increase capacity for general use
preserve a historic facility, enhance accessibility and bring structure and systems up to code compliance

Changes to Anderson Hall will include substantial alterations addressing code deficiencies such as:

structural, seismic, life safety, hazardous materials and accessibility
replacement of heating, ventilation, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, mechanical, and communication and alarm systems for functionality and reduced operating costs
complete renewal of building envelope to prevent water infiltration and improve energy performance and occupant comfort
classroom size flexibility and functionality to be increased with multimedia and furniture upgrades
ADA accessibility, including the addition of elevators