The University of Washington Odegaard Undergraduate Learning Center is a 40-year-old building and the most active learning environment on the UW campus, open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The Odegaard renovation included physical updates suited to a contemporary student body — complete with expanded and flexible learning, study, and gathering spaces and improved student access to Wi-Fi and power. New Active Learning Classrooms provide collaborative teaching and study environments that incorporate flexible spaces designed with group learning technologies. Additionally, the project included reconfiguring a large three-story atrium, demolishing a central staircase to create more informal study and gathering spaces, and adding a large skylight to improve the student learning and study experience, as well as enhance the building’s energy efficiency. The renovated library also included more than 20 individual or small group study spaces and seven new enclosed team spaces, as well as the isolation of the third floor to designate it as “quiet study” space. The library remained operational during the construction duration to accommodate the UW student body. The UW, designer, and Mortenson chartered a collaboration agreement encouraging collaboration and integration of lean principles, which resulted in an expedited design and construction process.

More from our customer:
"Mortenson was a great partner in June when we shared space for one week at the end of the quarter while staff were moving out of the library and into trailers. Even with the breakneck schedule, Mortenson was respectful of our needs during the move. Mortenson went out of their way to make sure that we were comfortable in the trailers -- installed whiteboards, improved locks, installed a doorbell and security mirrors, improved lighting in the offices, put bars on the windows, and installed small mini communication boards. Staff are really enjoying the trailers, and Mortenson’s responsiveness has made a huge difference in the experience. They listen, and each request is taken seriously and acted upon in consultation with UW Capital Projects Office.

We have also been very impressed with their safety program and how seriously it is taken. They have briefed us at every possible opportunity and have taken all necessary precautions. Additionally, they communicate well and have agreed to share their planning documents, schedules, and photographs with us in an efficient and effective online system. We have 24-hour access to up-to-the-minute changes and additions.

Finally, we have been very impressed with Mortenson’s professionalism and cheerfulness, in addition to their attention to all aspects of this challenging project. We have full confidence in their ability to come in on time, on budget, with a spectacular outcome."