Aerial view of UW Medical Center Northwest located in the Northgate and Haller Lake neighborhoods of North Seattle on a 33-acre campus.
The Seattle City Council approved the UWMC-Northwest Major Institution Master Plan (pdf) and rezone on April 8, 2025, completing a two and a half year community process. We appreciate the community involvement, the Development Advisory Committee’s active participation and guidance, and Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) support.
UWMC – Northwest opened in 1960 as Northwest Hospital. More recent campus development has been guided by a master plan that was developed in 1991. Since then, the region’s population and demand for healthcare services have grown significantly.
A master plan is a detailed document that lays out the long-term vision for an institutional campus, such as a university or large medical center. The City of Seattle requires all major medical and educational institutions to define a "major institution master plan (MIMP)" for their respective campuses and facilities. A MIMP documents existing facilities and infrastructure, identifies potential development areas and establishes the design standards that will guide future development.
A Major Institution Master Plan will define a long-range plan for our medical center property. As UW Medicine continues to be a national leader in transforming patient care and medical services, our facilities must also reflect our commitment to excellence.
Introduction phase
End of third quarter 2022 into fourth quarter 2022
Concept exploration phase
End of third quarter 2022 to end of first quarter 2023
Regular DAC meetings
Regular DAC meetings held once a month from March 2023 through Q3 2024
MIMP Refinement and State Environmental Policy Act
February 2023 – March 2024
Hearing Examiner and City Council Review
Late fourth quarter 2024
City Council Review
First quarter 2025
The process by which a major institution applies for and develops a Master Plan is established by the Seattle Land Use Code Section 23.69.032.
In Seattle, master plans have been established for 13 major medical and educational institutions, including UWMC – Montlake (as part of the UW Seattle campus), Seattle Children’s Hospital and North Seattle College.
We are working with several partners to define our future during the MIMP process, including our community, neighbors, employees and patients. As part of the MIMP development process, we will also work with the City of Seattle Departments of Neighborhoods (DON), Transportation (SDOT) and Construction and Inspections (SDCI). The City Council and UW Board of Regents make the final decision to adopt the MIMP once it is completed.
The community is represented by a formally appointed advisory committee that participates in both creating the MIMP and monitoring implementation. All Development Advisory Committee (DAC) meetings are open to the public and provide an opportunity for public comment. You can learn more about the DAC meetings on the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods website.