March 24, 2023
An Empowering Education

Mechanical engineering Ph.D. candidate Malia Steward’s work focuses on solar energy – the fastest-growing source of new electricity in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Photovoltaic or solar cells are made of semiconductor material that absorbs the energy of sunlight and converts it to electrical power. Steward aims to understand solar cells’…
Climate & Energy | Innovation & Technology
March 23, 2023
UW Receives $1.2M Climate Change Research Grant from EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced nearly $4 million in grant funding for universities—including University of Washington—to research impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. UW will receive $1,267,559 for a community-based project researching ways to preserve water, soil and sediment along the Duwamish River, famously polluted by decades of industrial contamination. Flanking…
Advocacy & Civic Engagement | Diversity, Equity & Justice | Health & Well Being | Natural Hazards | Natural Resources & Environment | Water
March 21, 2023
Quieting a Bridge

Like many bridges around the world, the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge (SR 520 bridge) has expansion joints that allow it to expand or contract to adapt to environmental changes, such as changes in water level, without causing structural damage. However, expansion joints can create noise problems. When the new SR 520 bridge opened in 2016,…
Design & Building | Infrastructure & Transportation | Innovation & Technology
March 17, 2023
UW Study Details New Seattle Area Commute Patterns

In the post-Covid era, how we get around is changing. A new study from the University of Washington’s Mobility Innovation Center and Commute Seattle finds traffic is back not just because of work trips. 75% of people drive alone for errands. “If we can make transit, biking, and walking for those types of trips, we’ll…
Infrastructure & Transportation | Land Use & Planning
March 14, 2023
Could Walks in the Park Ward Off Postpartum Depression?

New moms who live on tree-lined streets may be somewhat less vulnerable to postpartum depression, according to a new study — the latest to link “green space” to better mental health. The study, of medical records from more than 415,000 new mothers, found that those living in urban areas with more tree coverage had a…
Health & Well Being | Natural Resources & Environment
March 10, 2023
“Hacking Inequity” Event Discusses Barriers for Women and BIPOC Developers

Last month, housing finance professionals, community members, and University of Washington faculty, staff, and students met in Founders Hall for “Hacking Inequity in Access to Real Estate Capital: Best Practices and New Options.” This event, hosted by Foster School of Business, Runstad Department of Real Estate, Urban@UW, and ULI Northwest, sought to present strategies of…
Diversity, Equity & Justice | Economy & Development | Housing & Homelessness
March 9, 2023
The Battle Is On to Increase Housing Supply

This may be the year of aggressive efforts to increase the housing supply in Washington and Seattle. A total of 13 bills are moving through the Legislature with bipartisan support. They would speed permitting, make it easier to build “mother-in-law” units adjacent to existing houses, and allow lots of more than 1,500 square feet to…
Economy & Development | Housing & Homelessness | Policy & Law
March 7, 2023
Groundbreaking Study Shows Suburban Tenants are Facing More Evictions across the US

The number of families evicted from their homes in suburbs across the country has been on the rise for years, according to a report from Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. Researchers compiled eviction judgment records from 74 U.S. metropolitan areas and found that as the number of evictions in city centers held steady from 2000 to 2016, the…
Economy & Development | Housing & Homelessness | Policy & Law
March 2, 2023
PacTrans Receives USDOT $15M Renewal Award

To continue and expand its important work to improve the movement of people and goods throughout the region, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans) has received another green light: a $15 million renewal grant over the course of five years from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). “We are grateful for receiving this new grant to…
Diversity, Equity & Justice | Economy & Development | Education | Health & Well Being | Infrastructure & Transportation | Innovation & Technology
February 24, 2023
Downtown Dreams: Leaders Share 10 Ideas to Make Seattle’s Core More Vibrant

In his “State of the City” address on Tuesday, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said the word “downtown” more than 30 times and dedicated a quarter of his annual speech to revitalizing the city’s core. There are some examples of success. New York City transformed lower Manhattan into a 24-7 community with more residents and a…
Arts & Culture | Economy & Development | Innovation & Technology | Policy & Law