After five years of planning, garnering support and execution, it is with great pride and joy that we celebrate the transformation of Parrington Hall. To the Evans School community – alumni, friends, staff, faculty and students – as well as the UW and the State of Washington, thank you. The vision of Dean Emerita Sandy Archibald, the enthusiasm of Dan and Nancy Evans, the project management of Rebecca Ehrlichman Blume, the contributions of our architectural and construction partners and the generosity of 517 donors led by co-chairs Bill Clapp, Maria Denny and Tom Waldron, were critical in bringing the project to this incredible conclusion. I hope you will take a few minutes to join a virtual tour to see this truly remarkable remodel for yourself and to realize just what this transformation means for our students, faculty, staff, and community!
This is a unique time to celebrate the completion of a building project, with so many of us teaching, learning, and engaging from home. In this period of upheaval and isolation, we long more than ever to gather physically and philosophically during this traditional season of coming home. In a way, Parrington Hall’s transformation symbolizes where we have been, where we are going, and what we can accomplish together.
Within our responsibilities as an academic institution is the mandate to continue to learn and to share an awareness of our own history with humility in order to forge stronger more inclusive public policy, toward a more equitable future. As we celebrate our newly renovated home in Parrington Hall, I would like to acknowledge the Coast Salish peoples, upon whose land Parrington Hall and the University of Washington were built. Their ancestors have resided here since time immemorial and they continue to live in this place today, deeply rooted in their cultural traditions.
Land acknowledgement is a traditional practice in many Indigenous communities. Long before Parrington Hall — or Science Hall, as it was first named — was built in 1902, Coast Salish communities were already in relationship with this land. Recognizing this continuing history reminds us of the importance of centering Indigenous, Black, and other communities of color within our Evans community, and it reminds us of our own connection to this land where we live, learn, and work.
I recognize that this acknowledgement is a small gesture, but an important initial step in our commitment to “make anti-racism work [our] cornerstone, focus, and overarching mission.” This step carries the further responsibility to dedicate ourselves to building respectful, collaborative, and accountable relationships, and to allow those relationships to inform our actions.
When it is safe to do so, we will welcome all of you to Parrington Hall to celebrate its incredible transformation to a light filled and inspiring space in which to connect, engage with community, bridge divides, and move our mission forward! Until then, please remember that even when we are far from campus, our community’s passion for public service and unceasing dedication to making change and elevating equity, distinguish us as the Evans School in all places and at all times.