Safeco building now officially the UW Tower

In a grand opening ceremony Friday, Paula Reynolds, the chief executive officer of Safeco Insurance, handed the keys of what is now called the UW Tower to UW President Mark Emmert.

While the tower will mainly be used to house administrative services, the space will provide some benefits for UW students.

Many offices on campus that are rarely used by students will move to the tower, freeing up space for more student-frequented offices like Financial Aid or International Programs and Exchanges.

Many of the offices in Schmitz Hall will move closer to central campus, making them more accessible to students, said ASUW President Tyler Dockins.

He also recommended that some of the property acquired from Safeco could be used to build student housing.

UW President Mark Emmert spoke at the event and entertained the idea of opening the top (22nd) floor to students. The UW Tower is the tallest building in the University District, providing a view of the entire campus, the Seattle skyline and a panoramic display of the surrounding mountains.

The building’s cafeteria may be opened to students, giving them another option for food off campus, said John Seidelmann, the facilities planner for the tower.

However, Seidelmann stressed that the cafeteria will not provide as many services as Safeco did when it owned the building. This will encourage users of the tower to eat at businesses on the Ave.

“The tower will enhance the connection between the campus and the University District Community and strengthen the relationship with the Ave,” Seidelmann said.

Brian Ives, president of the University Chamber of Commerce, described the UW as a good neighbor.

The UW Tower won’t cast a shadow, Ives said, but rather serve as a beacon of light, showing the rest of the district and beyond that the UW is an important part of this area.

Physical evidence that the UW owns the tower will appear in mid-May, when four massive signs will replace the Safeco signs that don the top of the tower.