The University of Washington and Starbucks Coffee Company ― two iconic hometown institutions ― are coming together to create a world-class coffeehouse destination in the historic and iconic Suzzallo Library. The design of the new cafe, set to open this fall, will honor the library’s rich history and legacy, and serve as a warm and welcoming space for the thousands of students, faculty, staff and guests who visit the library each day. Artist Rendering of Starbucks Location Located Inside Suzzallo Library (Source: U. of Washington)
Lizabeth (Betsy) Wilson, vice provost for digital initiatives and dean of University Libraries, said, “We are pleased that Starbucks will be showcasing not only their coffee and environment, but that they are integrating the design elements of the historic Suzzallo Library. Henry Suzzallo might be surprised to see a coffee shop in a library, but I think he would be pleased to see students using the library in ways he could not imagine. It would be beyond his wildest dreams.”
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For the new cafe at Suzzallo Library, Starbucks store design team worked closely with UW Libraries, UW Housing & Food Services and other campus stakeholders to develop a design that would honor the integrity and heritage of the library, while meeting the growing needs of the campus community. The 4,000-square-foot space will offer a variety of seating options to inspire greater connection between students, faculty and staff, delivering a true coffeehouse destination at the library.
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area.
He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.
Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
