A Mortarboard competition will award prizes to the most inspired graduation caps as voted on through CBE’s Instagram. To be considered either upload your own photo or check-in at the information table (enter and to the west/right) to have your picture taken! Then, have your friends and family vote (like)!

Start planning your 9.4″ x 9.4″ masterpiece today!

More information forthcoming. For questions please contact Meegan Amen at meegan@uw.edu.

RSVP Deadline

Graduates that RSVP by Friday May 24 are assured a Trophy Cupcake to take with you after the ceremony concludes. Graduates are welcome to RSVP after May 24, however, you won’t be eligible for cupcakes. Students should RSVP to the celebration here.

Note that you must RSVP to the UW Commencement ceremony separately!

Eligibility to Walk

PhD, Masters, and undergraduates who graduated summer 2023 through summer 2024 are eligible to participate in the ceremony. Graduates that RSVP to the ceremony will be reviewed by the departments to confirm eligibility.  Students receiving CBE minors and certificates only are not recognized at this celebration.

Graduate Apparel

Wearing academic apparel (cap and gown) is preferred but not required. Academic apparel can be ordered May 1 – 15. Graduates pick up their apparel at the UW Bookstore May 30 – June 3.

If you plan to also attend the UW Commencement on Saturday, academic apparel is required.

Guest Tickets

• No ticket(s) are necessary.
• Doors open at noon.
• Please limit guest lists to no more than eight (8) seated.
• Seating is first come, first served.

Arranging Accessibility Accommodation

• The Exhibition Hall is wheelchair accessible: enter from Mercer Street.
• Proceed to the reception by exiting the Exhibition Hall, go up the ramp, and proceeding west (left) to the Founders Court.
• Accommodation inquiries should email meegan@uw.edu.

Parking

• Parking is available in lots adjacent to Seattle Center.
• The lot closest to the Exhibition Hall is the Mercer Garage.
• All parking lots and street spots in the area require payment.

Graduate Arrival Time

• Graduates should plan on arriving no later than 12:30 pm for check-in and additional ceremony information.
• Check in with your departmental program adviser to receive processional lineup information and obtain your name card.
• Graduates should be in the processional line ready to walk no later than 12:50 pm.
• If a graduate arrives late please see the staff member posted at the information table (enter and to the right/west).

After Ceremony

The Founder’s Court, just west of the Exhibition Hall, is reserved for our guests to mingle. Shelly Oberman Photography and other photographers will be on-site to capture candids. All event photos—and the Gould and Architecture Hall photo booth will be available for complimentary download the week after graduation.

Trophy Cupcakes will also be available for graduates to take with them as they leave the event. Please make sure you RSVP before May 24 to be eligible.

Students are not required to wear graduation regalia to the CBE Graduation Celebration, however, it is required for participation at UW Commencement.

All apparel and souvenirs can be purchased through the UW Commencement website. is provided by Oak Hall Cap & Gown. You order regalia when you complete the Registration/Order Form (early May).  You will also be able to order other items as desired (souvenir tassels, extra degree tassels, mortarboards, hoods, honor cords, and stoles of gratitude for those who have helped you during your college career). Bachelor’s and master’s regalia are for purchase only – there is no rental option.

Faculty should order regalia through the UW Ceremonies website. Orders may be placed via the Office of Ceremonies faculty regalia order  become available in April. Order before May 1 to receive your college regalia. Orders placed after May 1 will be outfitted in UW apparel only.

301 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109

Seattle Center  + Exhibition Hall Website

Getting There: Numerous bus routes serve Seattle Center including Metro routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 13, 24, 29, 31 and 33. Rapid Ride D Line and routes 5 and 28 serve the Center along Aurora Ave N. Click here for more details or to use the King County Metro Trip Planner.

Paid Parking is available at all Seattle Center garages. The Mercer Garage is across the street from the Exhibition Hall. Accessible parking spaces are located at several Seattle Center garages locations along the periphery of the campus. If all the available accessible garage spaces are full, visitors should check with the Attendant on Duty for remaining availability.

We have your photographic opportunities covered! All photos will be uploaded to the CBE website for your complimentary downloads the week of June 10.

Photo Booth June 3 – 5

Starting Monday, June 3 look for photo booth opportunities in Architecture and Gould Halls! The tentative schedule (photographer dependent) is Monday – Wednesday 11:00 am – 1:30 pm at the Gould central stairs and rear entrance of Architecture Hall. Photographers could be mobile within the building so look for the balloon bouquet!

Group Photos June 6

Department group photos will be Thursday, June 6. Final schedule and locations will be emailed closer to the date. Email meegan@uw.edu or your adviser for any details.

Graduation June 7

Photographers will be on-site to help commemorate this special occasion.

Ceremony Video

A videographer will record the ceremony, however, no live video will be available. A link to the video recording will be posted on this page the week of June 24.

Bachelor Candidates complete an application for graduation with their departmental adviser. Degrees are not automatically awarded when requirements have been satisfied. It is your responsibility to apply for degrees and certificates. Applications must be submitted no later than the third Friday of the quarter you plan to graduate. You can also submit them up to 3 quarters before you plan to graduate. Once you apply, you are eligible for Graduating Senior Priority registration.

Master’s graduates submit their master’s degree request  with the Graduate School. Students will want to review the Graduate School’s graduation dates and deadlines or contact Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) at uwgrad@uw.edu or 206-685-2630 for additional information.

Doctoral Candidates scheduled their final exam (doctoral) with the Graduate School.

On June 8, 2024, Huskies from around the world will once again take the field at Husky Stadium to celebrate their accomplishments in front of 40,000 proud family members, friends and guests. President Cauce and the leadership of the University will be there to confer degrees as each graduates makes that once-in-a-lifetime walk across the 4,000-square-foot stage, adorned with life-size replicas of the four ionic columns that graced the Territorial University over 160 years ago. Be looking for Commencement invitations during Spring Break. In the meantime, visit our Graduation Checklist page to find out what each graduate needs to do to prepare for the graduation season.

GRADUATE DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS

AIA MEDAL FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE  

https://www.aia.org/resource-center/medal-academic-excellence

The AIA Medal for Academic Excellence is awarded to the top graduating students with a Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture, or Doctor of Architecture from schools accredited by NAAB or CACB. Awardee based on highest GPA.

ALPHA RHO CHI BRONZE MEDAL

https://alpharhochi.org/medal

Judged by the faculty of each school, the medal is presented to the graduating senior who has shown an ability for leadership, performed willing service for his or her school or department, and gives promise of real professional merit through their attitude and personality. Only one nominee per each accredited institution is accepted. Awardee selected via faculty nomination and vote.

BTES EDWARD ALLEN AWARD

https://btes.org/BTES/awards/ed-allen-award/

The Edward Allen Student Award is the highest honor given by the Building Technology Educators’ Society recognizing students–who over their academic career–have demonstrated commitment, passion, curiosity, and excellence in the integration of building technology and architectural design. Awardee selected via faculty nomination and vote.

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE FACULTY MEDAL

This award is given by the Department of Architecture faculty to a student in the Master of Architecture program for high standing in design and general scholarship. Awardee selected via faculty nomination and vote.

TAU SIGMA DELTA HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP NOMINATION

https://tausigmadelta.org/operating-procedures/

Nominations go to the top 20% of graduation class (undergraduate and graduate) based on GPA only. To join the honor society, student must accept and pay the TSD membership fee.

UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS

UNDERGRADUATE ARCHITECTURE PRIZE
This is awarded by the Department of Architecture faculty to the top-ranking graduating senior in each program, the Architectural Studies and Architectural Design majors, as measured by their cumulative GPA.

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE FACULTY AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND LEADERSHIP
This certificate is awarded by the Department of Architecture faculty to a student from the Architectural Studies or Architectural Design program for high standing in scholarship and leadership.

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE FACULTY AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND DESIGN
This honor is awarded by the Department of Architecture faculty to a student in the BA Architectural Design program for high standing in design and general scholarship.

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE FACULTY AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND WRITING
This honor is awarded by the Department of Architecture faculty to a student in the BA Architectural Studies program for high standing in research-driven writing and general scholarship

Eligible to nominate: CBE Students

We are currently accepting nominations for the Lionel “Spike” Pries Award for Teaching Excellence. This award—created by students in the College of Built Environments—recognizes the outstanding teaching of our CBE faculty.

Named after the legendary and inspirational professor Lionel H. (“Spike”) Pries (1897-1968) who taught in the architecture program from 1928 to 1958, this annual award recognizes excellence in teaching during the past academic year.

All faculty within the college, with the exception of the previous year’s winner (Catherine De Almeida/Landscape Architecture), are eligible.

Nominations accepted here!

Eligible to nominate: CBE Faculty and Staff

The Outstanding Faculty Award recognizes a full-time faculty member who has made the most notable contributions in their field or to the community in research and/or service, or to their department or college, or to students through teaching and/or service during this academic year, as voted on by the College Council.

Eligibility:  All full-time CBE faculty.

Ineligible: Faculty holding administrative positions—Dean, Associate Deans, or departmental chair—or those who have received the award in the past three years (Keith Harris, Gundula Proksch and Jeffrey Ochsner).

Nominations accepted here!

Eligible to nominate: CBE Faculty and Staff

The Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award recognizes a part-time faculty member who has made the most notable contributions in their field or to the community in research and/or service, or to their department or college, or to students through teaching and/or service during this academic year, as voted on by the College Council.

Eligibility:

• All part-time CBE faculty members (including lecturers and affiliate faculty of all ranks) can be considered for the award.
• Part-time faculty members nominated must have taught at least one course during the current academic year and must have taught at least one course each year for the previous five years.
• Faculty members are not eligible to receive the award if they have received the award within the previous three years (Steve Withycombe and Marty Curry).

Nominations accepted here!

Eligible to nominate: CBE Faculty, Staff, and Students

The CBE Distinguished Staff Award recognizes the recipient’s extraordinary contributions to the College. The nominee should contribute to a positive collegial environment for the benefit of faculty, staff, and students, with a focus on promoting unity and communication as well as demonstrating an extraordinary level of commitment, leadership and collaboration within the CBE.

Eligibility:

• Staff need to have been employed at CBE for the last six months at 50% or more.
• Ineligible staff include previous two years’ winners (n/a 2024).

Nominations accepted here!