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A JOINT INITIATIVE OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND THE FOSTER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

The University of Washington’s engineering + business institute for emerging technology leaders.

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Global Innovation Exchange, Steve Ballmer Building, Bellevue, Washington

Meet our Partners

Located in Seattle’s dynamic ecosystem, GIX provides unparalleled access to the world’s foremost technology companies, industry experts, and professional mentors.

Discover our Spaces

Custom-built for GIX, the Steve Ballmer Building houses comprehensive labs, studios, workshops, and classroom spaces supported by faculty, technical experts, and full-time staff.

The Makerspace

Fetch Robot

Robotics Lab

Hardware Prototyping Lab

The Shops

Capstone Studio

The Commons

The Makerspace

The large cooperative work area at the center of the Labs is affectionately called the Makerspace. This area includes worktables, model-making supplies, drawing tools, and a variety of other maker technologies that don’t fit the confines of a specific lab. Students, faculty, staff, and other members of our community interact and collaborate on design and prototyping solutions that address the unique challenges of their projects. Here you can explore form-finding, fabrication, and assembly techniques, and create complex parts and assemblies using computer-controlled equipment.

Robotics Lab

Fetch Robot

The Robotics Lab is a multi-functional workspace that includes individual workstations, electronics workbenches, and mobility and manipulation robots for project use. Here you have access to a variety of robotics platforms and environments to explore human-robot interactions, including robotics pens, multiple Kinova manipulator arms, a drone net, and other tools for creating robotics solutions that can sense, navigate, and manipulate the dynamic world around them.

Hardware Prototyping Lab

The Hardware Prototyping Lab is a dedicated space for developing, testing, and fabricating electronics hardware prototypes. It houses several fully equipped electronic workstations, a full line of printed circuit board (PCB) prototyping equipment, and a library of materials and components available to all users.

The Shops

At the heart of the Prototyping Labs students will find a variety of specialized tools and work areas that collectively comprise “The Shops.” Engaging with these facilities, which includes a wood and plastics shop, a milling and machine room, a CNC router room, a paint booth, and a large-format laser, you can learn to manipulate physical materials in three dimensions. Here you can explore form-finding, fabrication, and assembly techniques, and create complex parts and assemblies using computer-controlled equipment.

Capstone Studio

This 3,500-square-foot studio is designed for up to 20 dedicated group project spaces that aid in unlocking the potential of collaborative work. Each project space is equipped with desks, 27-inch monitors, and large portable whiteboards, fostering an environment where teamwork thrives.

The Commons

The Commons is a large, multi-purpose facility on the main floor of the University of Washington’s Steve Ballmer Building in Bellevue, Washington, offering more 2,700-square-feet of event space for demo days, guest speakers, alumni gatherings, mentor meetups, conferences, and graduation ceremonies.

Consider our Value

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Accelerated Career Paths for Emerging Tech Leaders

Career Outcomes
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Access to Seattle's Dynamic Tech Ecosystem

Partners
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Transformative Project-Based Learning

Projects
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Lifelong Connections to Global Innovators

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Global Perspectives and Experiences

Global Tech Experiences
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Inclusive and Supportive Community

People

Gain a Global Perspective

Our students broaden their technology horizons through Global Technology Experiences: two-week international summer immersions designed to complement our academic program in engineering, business, and design.

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