University Branch
🏢 The Seattle Public Library — Seattle, Washington
University Branch
Dedicated in 1910 with a Spanish-tiled roof and grand arched entry, the University Branch is one of Seattle's oldest Carnegie libraries — closed until late 2026 for a seismic retrofit.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 5009 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: (206) 684-4063
Website: spl.org
📖 About University Branch
The University Branch was dedicated on August 5, 1910, as part of a $105,000 Andrew Carnegie gift that funded three new Seattle branch libraries; of the branch's roughly $38,935 construction cost, $35,000 came from the Carnegie grant, and Cornelia and Watson Allen donated the land at the corner of NE 50th Street and Roosevelt Way NE. It was designed by architects W. Marbury Somervell and Joseph S. Coté — the same firm behind the Green Lake and West Seattle branches of the same era — in a neoclassical composition of formal symmetry and a grand round-arched entrance flanked by columns beneath a half-circle transom. Its original Spanish green-tiled roof, exposed rafter ends, and stucco cladding lend the building a distinctive Mediterranean character that sets it apart from Seattle's other Carnegie branches. One of the city's oldest library branches, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and designated a Seattle Landmark in 2002. The branch is currently closed until late 2026 for major renovations, including a seismic retrofit to make the historic building safer in an earthquake.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Dedicated August 5, 1910; one of Seattle's oldest library branches
- Built with a $35,000 Carnegie grant on land donated by Cornelia and Watson Allen
- Distinctive Spanish green-tiled roof and Mediterranean-influenced stucco design by Somervell and Coté
- On the National Register of Historic Places (1982) and a Seattle Landmark (2002); closed until late 2026 for a seismic retrofit
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University Branch open right now?
No. The branch is closed until late 2026 for major renovations, including a seismic retrofit to make the historic Carnegie building safer in the event of an earthquake; no regular open hours are listed while it is closed.
What makes the University Branch's architecture stand out among Seattle's Carnegie libraries?
Unlike the French Renaissance styling of its sister branches, the University Branch mixes a neoclassical arched entry with a Mediterranean feel — an original Spanish green-tiled roof, exposed rafter ends, and stucco cladding designed by Somervell and Coté.
Who paid for the land and building when it opened in 1910?
Andrew Carnegie's grant covered $35,000 of the roughly $38,935 construction cost, while the land at NE 50th Street and Roosevelt Way NE was donated by Cornelia and Watson Allen.