New $120M Innovation Center Opens Its Doors This Fall
After four years of planning and construction, the William & Gates Innovation Center — a 200,000 square-foot facility representing the largest single capital investment in our university's history — will officially welcome its first students, faculty, and researchers when the Fall 2026 semester begins in September.
The $120 million facility, funded through a combination of philanthropy, grants, and university reserves, is designed to be the physical embodiment of the interdisciplinary collaboration that defines the future of higher education.
A Building Designed for the Future
Conceived by the internationally acclaimed architecture firm Foster + Partners in collaboration with our own School of Architecture, the Innovation Center is a striking fusion of glass, steel, and sustainably sourced timber. Its design earned a LEED Platinum pre-certification, making it one of the most environmentally advanced university buildings in the country.
The building's key features include:
- Six interdisciplinary research labs equipped with cutting-edge instrumentation for work spanning AI, bioengineering, materials science, and clean energy
- A 40,000 sq. ft. startup incubator with private offices, shared workspaces, pitch rooms, and direct mentoring from venture capital partners
- Advanced maker spaces featuring 3D printing arrays, CNC milling, electronics prototyping benches, and a full machine shop
- A 500-seat auditorium designed for conferences, product launches, and large-format presentations
- Collaborative work environments on every floor, including rooftop gardens and informal meeting areas
- A ground-floor café and gallery showcasing student and faculty innovations
Bridging Disciplines
Unlike traditional academic buildings that house a single department, the Innovation Center was intentionally designed to bring together researchers, students, and industry partners from across the university's 12 faculties.
"The most important discoveries of the 21st century won't happen within the boundaries of a single discipline. This building makes it impossible NOT to collaborate, and that's exactly the point."
The first cohort of resident teams will include projects combining computer science with public health, engineering with environmental science, and business with social impact — reflecting the center's mission to tackle complex, real-world problems.
The Startup Incubator
Perhaps the most anticipated component is the No.1 Ventures Incubator, located on the second and third floors. Selected teams — drawn from students, recent alumni, and faculty spin-offs — will receive free office space, $25,000 in seed funding, and 12 months of intensive mentoring from a network of investors, entrepreneurs, and industry executives.
The incubator is projected to support 30 to 40 startups annually. Partner organizations including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Microsoft for Startups have committed to providing additional resources and deal flow support.
Sustainability at the Core
The Innovation Center will generate approximately 40% of its own energy through a rooftop solar array and integrated wind turbines. Rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and a geothermal heating/cooling system round out a sustainability profile that makes the building a net-zero target within three years of operation.
Opening Events
The grand opening will feature a week of public events from September 8–12, 2026, including keynote addresses by leading innovators, lab tours, a student innovation exposition, and the inaugural No.1 Ventures Demo Day. The public is welcome — registration opens in June on the university events page.
The building is named in honor of long-time university supporters Dr. Robert William (Class of '78) and his wife Catherine Gates-William, whose transformative $50 million gift catalyzed the project. Additional major donations came from the Moore Foundation, the Simons Foundation, and over 3,000 individual alumni donors who contributed through a targeted fundraising campaign.
"This building represents who we are and where we're going," said President Dr. Elizabeth Warren-Hughes at last month's topping-out ceremony. "It is an investment not just in bricks and glass, but in the ingenuity of every student who walks through its doors."