Bulletin boards across UW’s campus show the innate organization of each field of study

Have you ever wondered what different UW buildings' bulletin boards say about the people who study there?

by Caprielle Lang | April 14, 2026

How intertwined are our majors to our habits? To approach this question, we set off to look at the study spots and departmental buildings of some of UW’s majors and peek into how characteristics of their studies bleed into the appearance of their bulletin boards.

And just for fun, we’ve also awarded each bulletin board a superlative award for its appearance.

Mechanical Engineering Building

  • Departments: Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • The Engineering Annex, where this bulletin board hangs, became a Seattle Landmark in 2019
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most Accessibility Flyers

Meany Hall

  • Hosts performances from the School of Drama, School of Music, Department of Dance and the Department of Digital Arts and Experimental Media
  • The Jeopardy! College Championship was held here in 2000
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most Eye-Catching

Engineering Library

  • Supports the research and teaching of the College of Engineering
  • Great view of Lake Washington on the fourth floor, where a cantilevered study spot hangs from the ceiling
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most Organized

Electrical and Computer Engineering Building

  • Hosts labs, classrooms and offices for the Electrical and Computer Engineering department
  • Connected to the Paul G. Allen Center through an atrium
  • UW Magazine superlative: Sparsest

Communications Building

  • Hosts the UW Communications department offices and classrooms
  • Fun fact: There’s a shower in the second-floor restroom
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most Academics Focused

Department of Construction Management

  • Located in Architecture Hall, formerly known as Bagley Hall
  • Along with Cunningham Hall, Architecture Hall is one of the only buildings remaining from the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most Tempting QR Code

Music Building

  • Hosts the School of Music
  • Exterior windows feature leaded glass musical notes and symbols
  • UW Magazine superlative: Fewest Tacks

Kincaid Hall

  • Home to the Department of Psychology, including the Center for Child and Family Well-Being and the Psychological Services and Training Center (The Clinic)
  • Underwent major renovation in the past 10 years
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most Happening

Denny Hall

  • Home to the Department of Anthropology, Department of Classics, Department of German Studies, Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and Language Learning Center
  • Oldest building on the UW’s campus
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most History (if these tacks could talk!)

Allen Library

  • Open to the general public
  • Home to the UW’s Special Collections
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most Organized

Art Building

  • Home to the School of Art + Art History + Design
  • Originally designed as a twin to the Music Building, but after a large renovation to the Art Building in 1965, they no longer perfectly match
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most Aesthetically Pleasing

Husky Union Building

Physics and Astronomy Auditorium

Architecture Hall

  • Home to Departments of Architecture and Construction Management
  • Designed in 1907; remodeled in 2007
  • UW Magazine superlative: Most Structurally Sound