Chemical Sciences Building

For Students. For Science. For the Future.

New insights into how cancer spreads to inform treatment. Innovative tools for disease detection, available at home. Clean energy solutions for a sustainable future. The outstanding faculty and students in the UW Department of Chemistry are working on it all. Our faculty are leveraging the interdisciplinary strength of the UW to tackle some of the most pressing issues of today, while preparing our students to lead innovation and progress in tomorrow's workforce.

UW Chemistry is home to some of the leading chemists in the nation, and to continue driving progress and discovery, they need new facilities that can keep pace with the demands of modern science. A new Chemical Sciences Building will make that possible as a nexus for collaborative research and teaching that will help UW define the next 100 years of science education and breakthroughs.

A new Chemical Sciences Building will be a magnet for brilliant and bold scientists and a hub of collaborative research. It will accelerate the work already being done and enable chemistry we can’t even imagine.

Munira Khalil Leon C. Johnson Professor of Chemistry, Chair of the Department of Chemistry

Project Need & Overview

UW Chemistry student in lab coat smiling

The UW’s College of Arts & Sciences is home to one of the largest undergraduate chemistry programs in the nation with faculty at the top of their fields. Thousands of UW undergraduate students take introductory courses in chemistry each year, and many participate in hands-on, cutting-edge research across pressing research areas, from chemical biology to quantum computing. As a pathway for high-demand careers in Washington State, our students become leaders in healthcare, biotechnology, climate science and education.

Despite a growing need for chemistry education and research and a track record of excellence, UW Chemistry's aging facilities hold us back.

Current Space Limitations

Outdated facilities for research and teaching (Bagley Hall, 1937 / Chemistry Library Building, 1957)
Buildings lack appropriate temperature controls and collaborative spaces for modern science
Inefficient space, with research groups spread across buildings and floors posing accessibility and workflow issues
Current spaces are not sustainable for performing cutting-edge/novel research, making it a challenge to recruit and retain top faculty and grad students

A group of UW Chemistry students in class posing in lab.

Project Details

New building will be located in the heart of UW's cluster of science buildings, providing opportunities for research synergies among students and faculty in chemistry and related sciences
100,000 gross sq. ft. of laboratory spaces, meeting rooms, common collaboration spaces, and office spaces
15% gain in efficiency by moving from current aging facilities into new, energy-efficient building
Flexible and state-of-the-art lab design to grow faculty, student and industry interactions
Space for hands-on independent research projects and the development of modern interdisciplinary courses
Will house the Chemistry research labs currently in Bagley Hall and the Chemistry Library
Payette and EHDD selected as architects for the project
Building design* commences in winter 2025
Construction projected to start in 2026
Building completion date is 2028

*Architectural renderings will be added to this page once available.

Arial site map of location of new Chemical Sciences Building on UW campus

The new Chemical Sciences Building will enhance...

The Department of Chemistry has built a reputation over the past 100 years as one of the top destinations for chemistry research and study. We have long been a magnet for promising talent, but our antiquated facilities are now posing recruitment and retention challenges. In a new building, complete with flexible research spaces for collaboration and cutting-edge tools and instruments, we will be able to compete with national peers for top chemical scientists who will help define the future of science at UW.
Each academic year, more than 6,500 UW students use the Department of Chemistry facilities. From large introductory courses to hands-on research experiences, the department is educating and supporting the next generation of STEM leaders for Washington State. In a state-of-the-art new building, we will develop innovative curriculum that bridges the gap between classroom instruction and lab research. We will give more students opportunities to participate in research. And by recruiting top faculty to our department, our students will learn alongside the brightest minds in the chemical sciences.
The most pressing and intractable research challenges of our day require creativity and collaboration to tackle. In current chemistry facilities, research labs are split across floors and buildings, posing issues for collaboration, idea sharing and accessibility. In a new Chemical Sciences Building, research groups will be located for maximum collaboration and idea sharing. Open and flexible design will support research synergies between faculty and students across disciplines.
Chemistry alumni work in high-demand fields including healthcare, tech, education, public policy, and more. As a main pathway for STEM careers in Washington State, we are committed to empowering our students with the skills and experiences that will set them apart. A new building will foster opportunities for students to work with cutting-edge instruments, novel research endeavors, and top scientists in the field. As a result, our alumni will enter the workforce with the skills needed to contribute on day one.

The College is committed to providing a world-class education to its students while fostering leading-edge research across our units. The new Chemical Sciences Building will be a vital hub for interdisciplinary sciences and education that positively impacts our campus and region. We invite our community of donors to invest in this project alongside the College and help us lay the foundation for the next generation of learning and discovery.

Dianne Harris Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

Through Chemistry and 3D Printing, New Materials Emerge

Chemistry professor Alshakim Nelson and his research team use 3D-printing technology to develop new materials with potential real-world applications in medicine, engineering, and sustainability.

Area around Drumheller Fountain on the UW campus

NSF awards UW partners $13.6M to broaden access in the sciences

The UW’s Molecular Engineering and Materials Center and Center for Integration of Modern Optoelectronic Materials on Demand, in collaboration with partner institutions, have been selected for NSF Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) awards totaling $13.6 million to broaden participation and access to materials science resources, education, training, and career opportunities at minority-serving institutions.

To make fluid flow in one direction down a pipe, it helps to be a shark

Researchers from the University of Washington have discovered a new way to help liquid flow in only one direction, but without using the flaps that engines and our circulatory system rely upon to prevent fluid backup. The team built a flexible pipe with an interior helical structure inspired by the anatomy of shark intestines â creating a prototype inspired by biology but with applications in engineering and medicine.

Chemical Sciences Building | Fundraising Brochure

The Chemical Sciences Building campaign is about so much more than a building. It's about our commitment to students, to ground-breaking research, and to making a difference in the world. It's a difference that we're asking our community to invest in. Read through our Fundraising Brochure to learn more about the campaign.

Fundraising Brochure (PDF)

Project Funding

The projected total cost* for the Chemical Sciences Building is $190M, with funding coming from a blend of the state legislature, university and donor investment. The proposed funding breakdown includes:

Amount	Source
$5M	Already allocated by WA State for design phase
$125M	Pending request for WA State contribution
$40M	Investment from the College of Arts & Sciences
$20M	From private support

*Project totals might change over time as building costs fluctuate.

Invest in the Future of Science at UW

Building the new Chemical Sciences Building will take all of us. In addition to WA State and University funding, we are looking to our community of friends and donors to invest $20M to make this project a reality. Together, we can create a new home for novel science. We can empower more students to launch meaningful and impactful careers. We can bring together new ideas, new methods, new experts committed to building a healthier and more sustainable world. Join us and invest in the future of chemistry on our campus and in our region.