Construction for science building begins at UW Tacoma campus

The University of Washington Tacoma broke ground on the Dougan Addition building last week.

The $2.6 million construction project completes the first phase of the campus with a 13,000 square foot building that will serve as the northern gateway to the UWT campus along Commerce Street. Bodenhammer Inc., of Olympia, was awarded the construction bid. Work began immediately.

“The Dougan Addition is a small but significant addition to our campus,” said Vicky Carwein, chancellor of the UW Tacoma. “It will provide space for expansion of our science programs over the next few years and, when our new science building comes on line, the Dougan Addition will provide ideal space for the fine arts programs we look forward to offering in the future.”

The Dougan Addition features rooms with high ceilings and skylights to provide diffused light ideal for art, and sinks and space appropriate for the sciences. The building is triangular to fit the space where Commerce and Jefferson streets meet a half-block north of The Old Spaghetti Factory.

UWT moved into the first phase of its new campus that borders Pacific Avenue across from the Washington State History Museum in the fall of 1987. Just over a year after phase 1A was completed, the campus is filled beyond capacity with 1,300 students.

Much of the campus is housed in turn-of-the-century warehouses that have been renovated into academic classrooms, office and computer labs, all wired with the latest fiber-optic cables to ensure students and faculty can keep abreast of technology in the next century. New construction, like the Dougan Addition, is built to reflect the brick structures and architecture of the old warehouses.

The UWT campus has received praise from the architecture and economic development communities for its innovative and striking remodeling program, which is credited with revitalizing a portion of downtown Tacoma.

UWT is requesting $76.4 million from the Legislature to construct the second phase of its campus, which will include a science building, computer labs, classrooms, office space and a library expansion. “We are expanding to meet needs of this region, particularly in the areas of high technology and the sciences,” Carwein said. ¶