The Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science and Engineering
The new bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering was designed with a diverse student population in mind. The design not only accommodates a growing department, but also reflects the future of computing as a social hub. The building includes new space typologies for emerging fields of study and collaboration with the Seattle tech community.
Building materials
The Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering is a LEED Gold certified structure that greatly increases pedestrian and green space on the University of Washington’s West Campus. The project was launched in 2007 after a $20M lead gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In February 2008, the Hillman Foundation donated $10M toward the project. The new building was completed in 2010.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering was designed by LMN Architects to attract a diverse student population and enhance the School’s connection to the community and tech sector. The building includes classrooms, lecture spaces, and a designated undergraduate research area.
In the dedication of the computer science building, Gates spoke about his early days tinkering with computers, which led him to found Microsoft. His speech was a rare display of emotion. At a gathering of education, tech, and political leaders, Gates expressed the importance of computer science.
The Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering is composed of two buildings. The Gates Center for Computer Science is 150,000 square feet, and the Hillman Center for Future Generation Technologies is 60,000 square feet. The Gates Center is the focal point of a 143-acre campus. It features five main entrances, three levels, and two major pedestrian bridges. The Gates Center has been recognized by the AIA Honor Award, which is the highest honor for architectural design.
Design
The new Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington will provide a more welcoming campus and enhance the School’s connections with the community. This 140,000-square-foot facility will house classrooms, research spaces, faculty offices, and an event center. The building also includes a cafe and will serve as a home for students and faculty.
Located across campus from the Allen Center, the Gates Center will create a new hub for Computer Science at the University of Washington. Its design integrates a new cafe and public space on the street level. It also creates new grade-level plazas and enhances neighboring building entries. Its footprint is designed to accommodate a 35-foot grade difference and an access road, but features strategic gathering spaces with views of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering is a dynamic hub for technology development, education, and innovation. The building features classrooms, technology labs, a cafe, and flexible event space. Students can host workshops, career fairs, and demo days there.
Located on the campus’ north side, the Gates Center features a 135,000-square-foot building designed by Seattle-based LMN Architects. It’s funded through a public-private partnership, with gifts from Microsoft Corp. and other business and philanthropic leaders. Dedicated to education and innovation, the Gates Center furthers the Allen School’s leadership position and enhances collaboration among faculty and students.
Construction
The Bill & Melinda Gates Center, a new, 140,000-square-foot building in Seattle, will expand the computer science department’s capacity by two-thirds. It will house faculty offices, labs, research spaces, and a cafe. Its innovative design also incorporates a maker’s space and a virtual reality lab.
The new building was designed to attract a diverse student population, and to represent the future of computing as a hub of social activity. While the design is similar to the existing Computer Science Department, the building includes new space typologies that accommodate emerging fields of study and collaboration spaces with Seattle’s tech community.
The Gates Center is the result of a public-private partnership and a generous gift from Bill Gates and Melinda Gates. Several companies and local philanthropic leaders contributed to the building’s construction. The Gates Center’s design embodies these values and strengthens the Allen School’s position as a leader in the computer sciences and engineering community.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Center doubles the School’s teaching space and includes an auditorium and event space. It will further the School’s impact on the local and global technology sector, as well as increase the number of degree students enrolled in the Computer Science & Engineering program.
The Gates Center includes innovative maker spaces, an undergraduate commons that will serve as home away from home for majors, and a 3,000-square-foot robotics lab. Additionally, the new building includes a computer animation capstone workroom and a room for industry representatives to conduct interviews.
The new building will also be home to the University of Washington’s computer science department. It will house faculty offices, labs, and classrooms. It will also serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research and learning. The building’s design features a large, central atrium that connects the four floors and acts as the school’s cultural center, encouraging student interaction and teamwork.
Impact on Seattle
The Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington Seattle Campus is the culmination of a vision of maximizing the STEM pipeline value for local students and faculty. The Center is dedicated to the advancement of computer science and engineering and is the first of its kind in the world.
The new building doubles the space available to students and faculty, including a 240-seat auditorium and event spaces. The Center will further enhance the University’s presence in the state and the region, helping to meet the growing demand for computer science graduates.
The Gates Center will provide an additional 135,000 square feet of lab, undergraduate education, and support space. It will be located across Stevens Way from the Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering. In addition to providing new research space, the Center will also provide new residences for undergraduate majors. The Center will feature a central atrium that will serve as the school’s cultural hub. The atrium will encourage students to interact with faculty and one another, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Bill Gates’ contributions to technology extend far beyond computers. He has contributed heavily to research and journalism. He is also the largest private owner of farmland in the United States, with a total land holding of 242,000 acres in 19 states. Gates’ investment portfolio also includes nuclear power, global live satellite video, and artificial intelligence implantables.
The building’s design provides a welcome counterpoint to the tech industry’s industrial aesthetic. It includes classrooms, capstone workrooms, graduate research spaces, robotics labs, faculty offices, and a rooftop event space. The building is arranged around an atrium, and research spaces are intermingled across the building’s upper three floors.
Location at the University of Washington
The Bill & Melinda Gates Center is an integrated education and research center at the University of Washington. The Center is dedicated to advancing the study, research, and development of computer science, information technology, and related fields. Its facilities include technology labs, classrooms, flexible event spaces, and a cafe. Students, faculty, and researchers will have the opportunity to learn about new innovations and technologies in an environment that is conducive to a dynamic educational environment.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Center is home to several UW research groups, including the Game Science and Neurotechnology Centers. It is also home to the Global Innovation Exchange and the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology.
The Gates Center provides students with innovative resources that will help them create tomorrow’s technologies. Students and faculty can collaborate to create new technologies, and the Center features several labs that support research in the Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering. These labs include a 3,000-square-foot Robotics Laboratory, which has a functioning kitchen and supports the development of robotics for everyday tasks. It also features a wet lab for exploring the interface of technology and biology.
Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, among others, contributed over 70 million dollars to the new building. A renowned Microsoft executive also spoke at the event. Microsoft and friends donated $30 million to the project, and $15 million was provided by the Gates Foundation.
