The University of Washington has chosen Maslow’s Campus Communities as its development partner for a planned $115 million expansion of student housing and dining at the UW Tacoma campus. The selection of the team is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents, which will review the proposal before it advances.
The development is structured as a public-private partnership focused on growing UW Tacoma’s on-campus housing options and food service offerings. As planned, the project would provide housing capacity for nearly 500 additional students and deliver UW Tacoma’s first traditional dining hall, significantly expanding the residential campus experience.
Maslow’s Campus Communities is joined on the project by SERA Architects, a West Coast-based architectural firm, and Walsh Construction Co., a Pacific Northwest general contractor. These firms are expected to lead design and construction once the project receives final university approvals.
The project is scheduled to open in late 2029, giving the team a multiyear runway for design, approvals, and construction. The new housing and dining facilities are intended to support UW Tacoma’s long-term goal of growing total enrollment to 10,000 students while continuing to build out its physical presence in downtown Tacoma.
The campus plan has been developed in partnership with design firm Bjarke Ingels Group, aligning physical growth with UW Tacoma’s broader strategic objectives. Expanding student housing is a key component of that strategy, allowing more students to live in close proximity to academic facilities and campus services.
University leadership has framed the initiative as a substantial step forward for the campus and the surrounding community. UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange emphasized that the housing and dining development represents meaningful progress toward enhancing the student experience and strengthening the university’s role in downtown Tacoma.
By adding hundreds of new student beds and introducing a full-scale dining hall, the project is expected to reshape the residential profile of the campus core. The public-private structure is designed to leverage private-sector development expertise while aligning with UW Tacoma’s academic and enrollment objectives.
As the proposal moves through the Board of Regents approval process, project stakeholders will focus on finalizing design details, delivery sequencing, and operational planning for the new facilities. Upon completion, the expansion would mark a notable milestone in UW Tacoma’s evolution as an urban campus anchored in downtown Tacoma.
