Gates Gives UW $70M for Genome Sciences, Bioengineering Building

SEATTLE-The University of Washington received a $70 million gift late last week, the vast majority of which will help fund a 265,000-sf facility dedicated to Genome Sciences and Bioengineering.

The gift was from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in deference to the fact that three of the key architects of the Human Genome Project are UW faculty. Indirectly, the gift also supports fellow Microsoft founder Paul Allen, who is making an effort of his own to turn Seattle into a hub of biotech activity.

The $150-million Genome Sciences and Bioengineering building will be located at the south end of Seattle’s University District, at the southeast corner of Pacific Street and 15th Avenue Northeast. The future building will be shared by the departments of Genome Sciences and Bioengineering.