The Social Stair offers an additional unique gathering area with tiered seating for up to 104 guests, creating a natural spot for presentations, informal conversation, or simply taking in the space.
Guests can enjoy the surrounding outdoor areas for mingling, fresh air, and scenic waterfront views. The nearby shoreline also provides a peaceful setting for a quiet moment of reflection, making the Shell House a memorable backdrop for any occasion.
South Facade of the ASUW Shell House
Scenic View of the ASUW Shell House
Bathrooms within the ASUW Shell House
*Digital renderings. Final appearance may differ.
Make a Reservation
We are now accepting reservations for dates beginning January 10, 2027, with availability up to 2 years in advance. Make your reservation now!
If you are interested in renting the ASUW Shell House for your event, please be sure to have the following prepared before submitting your inquiry:
- Date
- Space access start and end time (rental hours are 7:30am-11:00pm)
- Event start and end time
- Estimated guest count (max capacity is 368)
- Whether alcohol will be served (must be catered and no cash bar)
If you are a UW departmental group, please make sure you also have the following information prepared, in addition to the above:
- UW Box #
- Cost Center AND Resource work tag
- OR Program work tag
- Any other work tags (FN, FD, GR, etc.) that are necessary to complete payment of the rental
When you are ready to submit your inquiry, please follow the steps below:
- Fill out the using the information requested above
- Once you have submitted your inquiry, you can expect to hear from someone on the reservations team within seven days with an estimate for your event and details to complete your booking.
Room Layouts & Furniture
Only ASUW Shell House staff can adjust ASUW Shell House furnishings and equipment on-site. Custom setups must be approved prior to rental date. Clients are responsible for reviewing and communicating any changes as soon as they come up and at least one week prior to the event date. If any changes are made by the client or the ASUW Shell House staff on the day of the event, additional fees may apply. Only ASUW Shell House provided and approved diagrams will be honored. The cost of any damage to ASUW Shell House furnishings or facilities will be passed on to the client.
Clients will have the option of utilizing our on-site (16) 8-top tables, (150) chairs, and (8) high-top cocktail tables. External furniture pieces such as additional tables and chairs are permitted from an outside vendor with venue approval. There will also be various soft seating options on the perimeter of the main hangar space. Setup of Shell House furniture does come with additional fee.
Pricing
| Event Size | First 2 Hours | Hourly After |
|---|---|---|
| Small (<100) | $180.00 | $55.00 |
| Medium (100-250) | $230.00 | $75.00 |
| First 4 Hours | ||
| Large (251-368) | $600.00 | $105.00 |
| Event Size | First 2 Hours | Hourly After |
|---|---|---|
| Small (<100) | $630.00 | $150.00 |
| Medium (100-250) | $680.00 | $170.00 |
| First 4 Hours | ||
| Large (251-368) | $1700.00 | $220.00 |
| Event Size | First 2 Hours | Hourly After |
|---|---|---|
| Small (<100) | $850.00 | $250.00 |
| Medium (100-250) | $900.00 | $270.00 |
| First 4 Hours | ||
| Large (251-368) | $2500.00 | $365.00 |
Additional Fees & Services
Charged for any event held in June-September.
Disability Accommodations
The ASUW Shell House has two ADA parking spots and is step-free from the two upper parking lots by the Waterfront Activities Center. There is an elevator inside the building, granting step-free access to the Pocock Shop on the upper level of the Shell House.
If you have specific accessibility concerns for your event, please include those notes in your reservation inquiry, and a Waterfront Facilities team member will connect with you to explore your options.
Cancellations
Cancellation fees will be applied based upon the size of the event using the timeline below. All time frames listed below are calculated as days prior to the contracted event date. For multi-day events, the timeline is based upon the earliest booking date on the reservation.
| Event Size | 3 Months | 6 Weeks | 15 Days | No Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (<100) | No Fees | No Fees | Room Charge | Full Fees |
| Medium (100-250) | No Fees | Room Charge | Full Fees | Full Fees |
| Large (251-368) | No Fees | Room Charge | Full Fees | Full Fees |
Food Service
All food service at the ASUW Shell House must:
- Be provided by a licensed caterer, chain restaurant, or be commercially pre-packaged
- Have a completed a 鈥淭emporary Food Service Permit鈥� on file (if applicable)
The cost to clean or repair any mess or damage to ASUW Shell House furnishings or facilities will be passed on to the client. If ASUW Shell House or Environmental, Health, and Safety (EH&S) policies are not followed, food service at the event may be halted or altered.
The Shell House kitchenette available on site is only intended for food staging, not food preparation. The space offers counter space, hand washing sink, fridge, freezer, microwave, and outlets for heating.
Preferred Vendors
We are currently working on creating our preferred vendor list. Please check back here for updates.
Legal Information
To comply with fire code requirements, please be aware of the following:
- All doors and exits must be kept clear of items and people at all times
- No furnishings, equipment, or displays are allowed outside of reserved spaces without prior approval
- All room capacities listed must be complied with.
The ASUW Shell House reserves the right to move or adjust furnishings or equipment in order to
ensure compliance with fire code restrictions. Additional labor fees may apply.
Optional insurance agency that can issue special events general liability 听颈苍蝉耻谤补苍肠别:
Building Access & Features
The ASUW Shell House is open to UW Students for open hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am-3pm beginning January 19, 2027. Private group rentals begin on January 10, 2027. Outside of these programs, the building is closed and not available to the public.
There is a installed sound system inside that will be available to renters. There are no volume restrictions for the ASUW Shell House given only one group can rent at a
time.
Clients will have the option of utilizing our on-site (16) 8-top tables, (150) chairs, and (8) high-top cocktail tables. External furniture pieces such as additional tables and chairs are permitted from an outside vendor with venue approval. There will also be various soft seating options on the perimeter of the main hangar space. There are NO linens provided.
Parking is available for a fee in lots E-19 and E-21, adjacent to the WAC, at $5.00/hour. The availability of parking cannot be guaranteed. Citations may be issued to vehicles that fail to pay at the pay station or via the Pay By Phone app.
If you plan on parking at our facility while attending an event at the WAC, please pay at the pay station located directly in front of the WAC, or contact the Parking Services Special Events Office at (206) 616-8710 for information.
All power access must be coordinated through Waterfront Facilities staff. The client is responsible for advising the Waterfront Facilities staff of any power needs by the Room Layouts deadline.
The ASUW Shell House will have complimentary Wi-Fi access for guests.
The Shell House does have a kitchenette on-site. Please note that it only intended for food staging, not food preparation. The space offers counter space, hand washing sink, fridge, freezer, microwave, and outlets for heating.
All reservation setup and cleanup (including time needed by vendors and catering) must occur within reservation times. If additional time is needed, please contact the Waterfront Facilities staff to check for availability. Additional reservation fees may apply. The ASUW Shell House staff reserves the right to end events early in order to ensure event timing stays within reservation window. Staff are not responsible for setting up or packing out any items that are not owned by the venue.
In order to store items in the ASUW Shell House, a reservation must be made. No items may be stored without a reservation. Please contact Waterfront Facilities staff if storage is needed. If space is available, the reservation may be extended. Additional fees will apply.
The Shell House offers six private all-gender bathrooms near the front entrance.
All Shell House rentals come with the West Lot space. The West Lot can be utilized for tenting, BBQ (not provided), or any approved activities outdoors. Exterior outlets are available for use. This is NOT to be used as a parking lot.
The ASUW Shell House does have limited equipment to support recording and streaming
capabilities. Please let the Waterfront Facilities staff know if the event will be recorded or streamed. This allows the Waterfront Facilities staff to ensure that the room us set up correctly and event staff are prepared; or for staff to advise if outside rental assistance is needed. If additional service is needed, please reach out to an AV company. All vendors must be approved in advance.
Washington law requires that all parties consent to being recorded or photographed for any purpose outside of candid or snapshot photography or filming for personal use.
Use of University Facilities
Washington state law require that 黑料老司机 facilities be used primarily for their intended educational use. Therefore, use of University facilities must be reviewed and approved by the Use of University Facilities (UUF) Committee.
A UUF is required if any of the following apply to the clients event:
- A private or commercial organization wished to sponsor or be involved with an activity at a University facility
- A University community member (current student, staff, or faculty) intends to hold a function at a UW facility which is open to the general public or invited off-campus guests
- A University community member (current student, staff, or faculty) intended to hold a function (independent of any student group, department or administrative unit) at a UW facility
- An organization would like to hold a partisan political activity at a UW facility
- All outdoor events with amplification
Alcohol Service
An is required to service alcohol on the 黑料老司机 campus and is different from a permit/ license obtained from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Groups planning to have alcohol need both an ASR and WA State Banquet permit and must bring printed copies of both on the date of the event.