New Starbucks at UW’s historic Suzzallo Library is anything but old school

When #henrysuzzallo was appointed president of the #universityofwashington in 1915, one of his top priorities was the construction of a new library that would be the soul of the university. Within a decade, modern steel beams would rise high into Seattle’s skies, forming the backbone of its gothic structure. Next would come soaring stained-glass windows and ornate details, and a skin of bricks and stone. Seattle was still a young timber town, yet by the time the library opened its doors to students in 1926, it already looked as if had been there for centuries.

“When you see Suzzallo, you think you’re looking at a cathedral,” said Denzil Suite, UW Vice President for Student Life. “It speaks to the grand, gothic architecture that’s inside the building – the columns, the spiral staircase, the stone. It has a presence of its own that just inspires awe.”

More than 90 years later, the library that bears Suzzallo’s name remains an inspiring place to gather to meet and study. The new #starbucks store just inside its doors honors its architecture and spirit with a café that is warm and inviting, consistent with the historic beauty of the building.

More information on the press release