The Russell T. Joy Building Street View

Architectural Firm: THA Architecture Inc.

The Russell T. Joy Building (Joy Building) is a three-story historic warehouse building originally constructed in 1892. Located at the north entry of the University, the Joy Building serves as a welcoming beacon and an entrance to a connective open space that runs through the campus. The addition of sixteen classrooms, seminar rooms, and two large lecture halls address the growth needs of UW Tacoma, as well as a new office suite for Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences department. The layout of the building situates classrooms on the east side of the building facing Pacific Avenue - with views out to the active streetscape and Tacoma's historic railroad station. Informal gathering and studying spaces are placed on the west side of the building, facing the pedestrian throughway and a planned plaza. Along Pacific Avenue, restaurant and retail space transforms the historic warehouse into a vibrant downtown storefront and enforce the strong ties the University has created with the Tacoma community.