William H. Gates Hall, Law school building at University of Washington, Seattle, United States
William H. Gates Hall is a six-story law building at the University of Washington covering 196,000 square feet of floor space. It holds classrooms, study areas, two mock courtrooms for training, a computer lab, and the largest legal library in the Northwest region containing over 600,000 printed volumes.
Planning for this facility started in 2001 after decades of efforts by faculty and alumni to replace the outdated Condon Hall. The building opened to students in September 2003 and represented a major upgrade in resources for legal education.
Inside stands a porcelain figure of Takuji Yamashita, a graduate from 1902 who completed his legal education despite facing discrimination. The sculpture serves as a reminder of how the law school has worked to include and honor all students over time.
The building features bright natural light throughout its interior spaces which helps with visibility and navigation. The northwest entrance is the main entry point, though multiple access points are available around the structure for visitor convenience.
At the northwest corner stands a Douglas fir sculpture created by artist Doris Chase that many visitors overlook while rushing through. The wood carving honors two historical figures named William Totten and adds an artistic dimension to the building's exterior.
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