University of Washington officially broke ground on a molecular engineering building. The completed building will consist of a 28,000-square-foot basement, an 8,000-square-foot sub-basement, and four above-ground levels each measuring about 12,000 square feet. The total building is about 90,000 square feet including hallways, utilities and common spaces. The large underground space, protected from vibrations and electromagnetic interference, will be the such lab space on the West Coast. Above it will be a courtyard, and the above-ground building with preparatory laboratories and flexible research and teaching space.

The University of Washington Health Sciences campus announced that Wendy Stone, a researcher and clinician who has focused on the early identification and early intervention for children with autism, has been named the new director of the University of Washington's Autism Center. Stone, who is currently the director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Marino Autism Research Institute at Vanderbilt University, will assume her UW position next May. She succeeds Geraldine Dawson, the founding director of the UW Autism Center, who left the university to become the chief science officer of Autism.

University of Washington Bothell Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan Jeffords has announced Dr. Bradley Portin as incoming Director of the Education Program. As Director, Portin will oversee the Education Program and its faculty and staff. The Program is home to over 300 students and boasts solid Masters of Education offerings as well as K-8, professional, and secondary teaching certification options to meet the region's continuous demands for quality teacher education. Portin is currently on faculty for the College of Education at the University of Washington's Seattle campus.