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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe University of Washington has begun construction on its new Chemical Sciences Building, a five-story, 104,500-square-foot research and teaching facility budgeted at $231.1 million. UW expects construction to finish in March 2029; it has not announced a separate public opening date.
What UW is building
The Chemical Sciences Building will bring new chemistry classrooms and laboratories to the University of Washington’s Seattle campus. The university held a groundbreaking ceremony on September 29, 2026, and UW News reported the milestone the following day.
The planned building has five stories and 104,500 square feet of space. It is going on the former Chemistry Library site behind the Molecular Engineering and Nanoengineering buildings on West Stevens Way NE. UW says the design is intended to support research and teaching, bring research groups together, and give undergraduates opportunities for hands-on research and active learning. The university cites sustainable chemistry, human health, advanced materials and quantum science among the fields the facility is meant to support.
UW’s announcement frames the project as an investment in collaboration and discovery. Its aims are plans, not guarantees about future research outcomes.
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When construction is expected to finish
UW Facilities says construction is underway and tracking to finish in March 2029. UW News and the Chemistry Department describe the building as set to open or be completed in 2029, but the university has not provided a distinct public opening date. March 2029 is therefore the current construction-finish projection, not a confirmed date when the building will open to occupants or visitors.
The UW Facilities project page provides the March construction target. The Chemistry Department also confirmed the groundbreaking and 2029 target in its October 1, 2026 update.
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How much the building costs and who is funding it
UW News puts the project budget at $231.1 million. The UW Project Tracker lists an approximate total cost of $231,153,078. GeekWire reports that $129 million is from a Washington state appropriation, with the balance coming from UW, the College of Arts & Sciences and private donations. The reviewed sources do not give a full itemized breakdown of those remaining contributions.
UW’s announcement says funding is led by the state, the College of Arts & Sciences and private support. The more specific state-appropriation figure is reported by GeekWire.
What happens to Bagley Hall
The new building is part of a broader plan to update the Chemistry Department’s facilities, not a replacement for every function in Bagley Hall. UW says wet-lab and high-performance lab functions from Bagley, along with some from the Chemistry Building and Chemistry Library, are planned to move into the Chemical Sciences Building. Computational labs are to remain in Bagley.
UW describes the new building as Phase I of a multi-phase Bagley Hall renovation. Bagley, built in 1937, has long housed the department. The new facility is intended to give UW room to renovate and update it, but the sources do not establish a budget or completion date for Bagley’s renovation. The lab-move details are in the UW Project Tracker.
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Why UW says the location matters
The site places the building next to existing chemistry and interdisciplinary science facilities. UW presents that proximity as a way to support collaboration across research groups and fields, alongside new classroom and laboratory space. The College of Arts & Sciences also projects a 15% efficiency gain from moving out of aging facilities into an energy-efficient building; that is a university projection, not a measured result from an operating facility. The College outlines its goals and rationale on its project page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Project details at a glance
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Chemical Sciences Building |
| Campus location | Former Chemistry Library site behind the Molecular Engineering and Nanoengineering buildings on West Stevens Way NE, Seattle |
| Planned size | Five stories; 104,500 square feet |
| Project cost | $231.1 million in UW News; approximate tracker total of $231,153,078 |
| Construction target | Tracking to finish in March 2029, according to UW Facilities |
| Design-build team | Skanska and Payette/EHDD |
| Primary uses | Research laboratories, classrooms, and teaching |
| Related work | Phase I of a multi-phase Bagley Hall renovation |
UW Facilities lists the design-build team and building specifications on its project page. The project’s cost and lab relocation plan are listed in the UW Project Tracker.
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