UW Hans Rosling Center for Population Health

Client: University of Washington 
Partners: Miller Hull, KPFF, Lease Crutcher Lewis

Completed 2020

Awards: DBIA National Project of the Year, Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award, AIA Seattle Award of Merit

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The University of Washington’s Population Health Initiative aims to improve the lives of billions of people around the world by addressing the overlapping factors that influence population health - human health, environmental resilience and social and economic equity. To support and foster the work of the initiative, the approach to the site design aims to provide a campus experience that will refresh and inspire the mind with opportunities for discovery and reflection. This vision is rooted in Attention Restoration Theory, which posits that time spent in a natural environment is more restorative for activities requiring significant cognitive functioning than time in an urban environment. Layered, lush plantings with seasonal interest provide immersive experiences alongside a garden walk winding through the site. Three new courtyards create a modern forum for scholars from the initiative and neighboring programs to come together. Custom furnishings at a variety of scales are embedded into the garden walk and courtyards, providing for a range of social engagement from tête-à-têtes to outdoor classrooms and large events.