Built Environments Library
Open Today | 1pm-5pm
Location Information
Entrance:
Accessible entrance from University Way. Elevator to the right of the entrance. Library is on the 3rd floor.
Accessible Bathroom:
Accessible bathroom on same floor.
Barriers:
Narrow spaces in some stacks and study areas.
Assistive Technology:
Available on Student Computers (require UW NetID) and Guest Research Workstations. KIC Scanner with height adjustable table.
Open today: 1pm-5pm
About Built Environments Library
The UW Built Environments (BE) Library serves the research and teaching of the five departments comprising the College of Built Environments (CBE)–Architecture, Construction Management, Landscape Architecture, Real Estate and Urban Design and Planning, and has operated in various forms since 1914, contemporary with the founding of the Department of Architecture.
Consider donating to the BE Library to support research and learning across the five built environments departments.
Collections, Spaces, and Services
Highlighted Research Guides
Additional Research Guides
Study Spaces and Services
Overlap in Collections
- Art Library in design fields (e.g., furniture design history and industrial design)
- Engineering Library (civil engineering and construction management)
- Titles in architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning can also be found in the Odegaard Undergraduate Library and Suzzallo and Allen Libraries
Collections and Databases
The BE Library has a large collection of books, journals and electronic media, including rare and fragile materials, reference books, and books on Pacific Northwest history and design.
History of the Built Environment Library
The Built Environments Library has served the Department of Architecture and allied fields at the University of Washington since the 1910s.
The School of Architecture’s Library was originally located in Architecture Hall and moved to its current Gould Hall location in 1971. From 1950-2004, Betty Wagner supervised the Architecture Library and built much of its current collection. The current Head Librarian has been here since 2004.
News and Events
EXHIBIT: The Mountain is Out: Mount Rainier in Special Collections
Rainier, Tahoma, Nutselip… the mountain is known by many names. A Pacific Northwest icon, Mount Rainier holds a unique place in the region's culture and lore. Its massive peak…
EXHIBIT: Out of Scope: Unexpected Artifacts in Special Collections
Explore unexpected artifacts that have made their way into Special Collections! Cultural organizations such as libraries, museums, and archives rely on a collection development strategy known as…
EXHIBIT: America at 250: The Moments That Made Us
The Moments That Made Us explores America's founding ideals through pivotal turning points in history. The exhibition explores five themes drawn directly from the Declaration of Independence: Created Equal; Life, Liberty,…
EXHIBIT: Kids in America, 1776
Kids in America, 1776 , explores childhood in early America. Many factors influenced children's lives, including whether they were free, enslaved, or Indigenous; their family’s status; where they lived; their level…
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