A new building on the rise at the University of Washington Tacoma will help meet the growing need for STEM programming in the South Sound and much more. When completed, Milgard Hall will stand as another shining example of UW Tacoma’s mission to be an “urban-serving university.”

Space for business and tech

Slated to open in January 2023, Milgard Hall will be a home for innovation and a place where business and technology meet. The 55,000 square-foot building will:

• Create space for new mechanical and civil engineering degree programs in the UW Tacoma School of Engineering & Technology, providing affordable access to popular programs for South Sound residents.
• Grow the Global Innovation & Design Lab, a hub for design thinking and entrepreneurship.
• Accommodate increasing enrollment in the Milgard School of Business.
• Strengthen business and industry collaboration.
• Provide space to grow other UW Tacoma programs.

The project integrates ambitious sustainable strategies, including mass-timber elements and energy-efficient construction. Its design and location are a nod to modern urban design and Tacoma’s rich lumber and rail history. Milgard Hall is located adjacent to the revitalized Prairie Line Trail and surrounded by historic warehouse structures.

Building better lives

“Milgard Hall represents a space that welcomes students and community members alike and where business and industry can deepen partnerships,” said UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange. “In Milgard Hall, our students will build better lives for themselves and their communities.”

The project is made possible by $40 million in construction funding in the state’s 2021-23 biennium budget and more than $10 million in private funding.

The building will be named in honor of James A. and Carolyn Milgard and the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundations, longtime UW Tacoma supporters.

Watch an informative and entertaining video that chronicles the rise of Milgard Hall. For more information, including a live construction feed, visit tacoma.uw.edu/fa/facilities/milgard-hall.