ARCH home - Architecture

WELCOME

The UW College of Built Environments is the only college in the nation with the disciplinary departments of Architecture, Construction Management, Landscape Architecture, Real Estate, and Urban Design and Planning under one roof – allowing us to offer unparalleled opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Together, we are guided by three core pillars: collaboration and impact, bold thought leadership, and equitable and just practices.

Our internationally recognized faculty integrate teaching, research, and practice in community-engaged design, high-performance building, embodied carbon, mass timber, materials and fabrication, as well as history and theory. Additionally, we are proud of our long-standing partnership with Seattle’s professional community, which is among the most innovative and highly recognized in the country. Through these diverse yet collective efforts, we strive to build a more just and beautiful world.

FACILITIES

EVENTS

SOCIALS

DIVERSITY

LIBRARY

RESEARCH

NOMAS Named National Chapter of the Year

The Department of Architecture congratulates the UW chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students on being named the 2025 Chapter of the Year. The honor recognizes the chapter’s outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable design community. This national recognition reflects the meaningful impact NOMAS UW continues to have within the department and beyond.

Rooted in Community: The Lasting Impact of Steve Badanes

The Department of Architecture celebrates Professor Emeritus Steve Badanes for his lasting influence on hands-on, community-centered architectural education. From leading the Neighborhood Design Build/Studio for more than three decades to inspiring generations of students through real-world design and construction, his work has shaped both local communities and the broader design/build movement. Steve’s legacy endures in the people and places transformed by his commitment to collaboration, craft, and service.

Kate Simonen Elected to the National Academy of Construction

The Department of Architecture congratulates Kate Simonen, Professor of Architecture and Director of the Life Cycle Lab, on her election to the National Academy of Construction. A pioneering architect and engineer, she has advanced industry understanding of life cycle assessment and embodied carbon through impactful research and collaboration. This honor recognizes Kate’s leadership and lasting influence on creating a more sustainable built environment.

Students Connected Design Learning to Global Women Architects at the ARCH 200 Exhibition

The ARCH 200 end-of-quarter exhibition showcased work by 142 first-year Undergraduate students, highlighting their progression from early mark-making to complex architectural studies. Led by Assistant Teaching Professor Zahra Rasti along with Julia Clough, Morocco Branting, Azita Footohi, and Andrew Baltimore, the students produced more than 400 drawings, models, and artifacts. The exhibition celebrated their creative growth while emphasizing global perspectives through case studies of women architects from around the world.