Denny Hall

Denny Hall is a university building at the University of Washington with Renaissance Revival architecture made of brick and sandstone, topped by a bell tower. The structure features symmetrical forms and large windows, with departments of Anthropology, Classics, Germanics, and Near Eastern Languages and Civilization currently housed inside.

The building was constructed in 1895 as the first structure on the University of Washington campus, initially serving as the administration building and library. Its foundation stone was laid in 1894, marking the beginning of the university's current campus development.

The Varsity Bell in the cupola rings each year during Homecoming, connecting current students with long-standing university traditions. This ritual shows how the building continues to mark important moments in academic life.

The building underwent a major renovation completed in 2016 and sits in a central location on campus, making it easy to find. Visitors can appreciate the exterior architecture, though the interior primarily serves the university departments that occupy it.

The cornerstone ceremony in 1894 drew around 1,000 attendees, making it a significant event for the region at that time. This large gathering showed how much the founding of the university meant to the city.