University of Washington Tacoma

The UW Tacoma campus is a unique model for an urban university. Located in the heart of Tacoma's Union Depot Warehouse National Historic District, the University offers degree programs for undergraduate and graduate students within renovated structures and new buildings.

BOLA Architecture + Planning, in collaboration with Miller/Hull and McGranahan Architects, completed the adaptive use design for three assembled warehouses as part of Phase 2B. BOLA's role included rehabilitation of 72,000 square feet of adjoining, heavy timber and brick structures for academic and commercial use, collectively known as the Cherry Parkes Building. The building is dual-faced, bordered by Pacific Avenue, a high-traffic thoroughfare, and Commerce Street, the primary pedestrian route for the UW campus.

The design for the building addresses the unique orientation of each facade.
Interior spaces emphasize the presence of the historic brick masonry and timber structure as well as natural illumination. The adaptive use design incorporates two-story gathering spaces and new minimalist metal details. BOLA's work, in addition to design concepts and documentation, involved collaboration with the contractor in a GC/CM delivery process. This project received the University of Washington's first LEED Silver certification in recognition of its sustainable design.


Cherry Parkes Building Tacoma Washington HOME DESIGN	University of Washington Tacoma The UW Tacoma campus is a unique model for an urban university. Located in the heart of Tacoma's Union Depot Warehouse National Historic District, the University offers degree programs for undergraduate and graduate students within renovated structures and new buildings. BOLA Architecture + Planning, in collaboration with Miller/Hull and McGranahan Architects, completed the adaptive use design for three assembled warehouses as part of Phase 2B. BOLA's role included rehabilitation of 72,000 square feet of adjoining, heavy timber and brick structures for academic and commercial use, collectively known as the Cherry Parkes Building. The building is dual-faced, bordered by Pacific Avenue, a high-traffic thoroughfare, and Commerce Street, the primary pedestrian route for the UW campus. The design for the building addresses the unique orientation of each facade. Interior spaces emphasize the presence of the historic brick masonry and timber structure as well as natural illumination. The adaptive use design incorporates two-story gathering spaces and new minimalist metal details. BOLA's work, in addition to design concepts and documentation, involved collaboration with the contractor in a GC/CM delivery process. This project received the University of Washington's first LEED Silver certification in recognition of its sustainable design.