What is CSE2?
CSE2 refers to the new 130,000 square-foot building that UW is constructing to accommodate current and future growth of its top-ranked Computer Science & Engineering program. It will be a second building for UW CSE, located across the street from the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering and forming a vibrant “engineering plaza” linking the facilities for Mechanical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, and Electrical Engineering at the heart of UW’s Seattle campus.
What is UW CSE’s current facility?
The Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering is UW CSE's current home and has proved to be a game-changer for CSE, the University, and the local tech community since it opened in 2003. The Allen Center’s laboratory and people spaces enabled us to double the size of our undergraduate program, to increase the size of our graduate program by 50%, and to triple our annual research funding. The quality of the Allen Center space has been instrumental in attracting and retaining the best faculty, students and staff and helped to cement our place among the preeminent computer science and engineering programs not only in the nation, but in the world. Due to CSE growth since 2003, though, the Allen Center is operating far beyond its intended capacity today - and further growth is needed.
Why is CSE2 needed?
Student interest in computer science has skyrocketed in recent years: incoming UW freshman designate CSE as their top-choice major more than any other field, and more than 5,000 students from across the campus enroll in our introductory computer science courses each year. At the same time, Washington’s innovative employers are clamoring for more computer science graduates: the bachelor’s level workforce gap in computer science exceeds that of all other high-demand fields combined, and UW CSE is, by far, the top supplier of graduates to innovative employers of all sizes in our state. However, CSE currently can accommodate only one third of qualified UW students who apply to the major due to capacity constraints. CSE2 will give us the room to double our annual degree production and educate more of Washington’s students for Washington’s high-impact jobs. CSE2 will also provide a dramatic increase in the number and versatility of laboratory spaces – essential for responding to the ever-increasing opportunities for innovation in the field. Together, CSE2 and the Allen Center will enable UW CSE to provide students with an unparalleled education and research experience. Learn more about student and employer demand here
How will CSE2 enhance the education and research experience?
CSE2 will provide dramatic improvements in the spaces provided for classroom education, laboratory education, research, and interaction. The building will feature a 250-person auditorium and two 100-person classrooms. Students will also benefit from access to a sophisticated maker space; new instructional laboratories and capstone project rooms; and improved facilities for meetings with academic advisers, teaching assistants and industry representatives. There will be a host of new research laboratories, including a 3,000 square foot robotics laboratory that will bring together a number of related efforts in this burgeoning field. The undergraduate commons will be a place for students to study, relax and work together on projects; CSE2 will also support our faculty and students by providing a variety of spaces that are designed to promote interaction, collaboration, and innovation. View architectural renderings and floor plans here.
What will CSE2 cost?
The total cost of CSE2 is $110 million. The project is being funded with a combination of state investment and philanthropic support — a true public-private partnership. In addition to the newly announced $10 million gift from Amazon, major commitments thus far include $10 million from Microsoft, $9 million from University of Washington sources, and $32.5 million provided by the Washington State Legislature during the 2015 legislative session. The Legislature has also provided separate funding for increased enrollments, which will move us toward our goal of doubling degree production once the new building comes online. Learn more about the campaign to build CSE2 here
What is the timeline for the project?
Design is nearing completion by Seattle’s LMN Architects, winner of the 2016 AIA Architecture Firm Award and designers of outstanding projects such as the Allen Center and PACCAR Hall on the UW campus and Benaroya Hall, McCaw Hall, and MOHAI in Seattle. UW plans to break ground in early 2017, and to open the building to faculty, students and the broader community early in 2019.