UW Molecular Engineering and Sciences

This LEED Gold research laboratory facility was one of the first high-performance buildings on campus, featuring natural ventilation, daylighting, and on-structure landscapes. The site is prominently located at the NE 40th Street campus entry, forming the third side of a new quad, and is the first contemporary building in a cluster of historic facilities. The landscape design for the new Molecular Engineering Building is a key element of the building, which is mostly below grade. The design challenge was to integrate the landscape and pedestrian circulation with the two existing buildings of different architectural styles. The site design grounds the new building’s contemporary architecture in a bold and elegant landscape. Sustainable design was interwoven holistically between the building and landscape to safely process all stormwater on the site, from the green roof to a large rain garden.