The Shell House is a distinctive waterfront venue, perfect for entertaining guests or hosting a productive meeting. Blending historic character with an open, inviting atmosphere, this flexible space is ideal for a wide range of gatherings. The main hangar features a 67鈥� x 67鈥� square footprint (approx. 4,500 SF) and can accommodate up to 368 people depending on your setup.
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.
Make a Reservation
We are now accepting reservations for dates beginning January 1, 2027, with availability up to 2 years in advance. We encourage you to secure your ideal date early! Reservations will be accepted and scheduled starting in January 2027.
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
- Event start and end time
- Estimated guest count
- Whether alcohol will be served
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
Only ASUW Shell House staff can adjust ASUW Shell House furnishings and equipment on-site. Diagrams are included with each quote and confirmation sent. 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.
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.
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.
If required, client shall acquire, maintain, and provide the University with proof of commercial general liability insurance with limits of not less than $1 million per occurrence, including coverage for personal injury, property damage, contractual liability and host liquor liability if applicable. The policy shall name the Board of Regents of the 天美影视传媒 as additionally insured and shall contain a standard severability of interest clause. Client insurance shall be primary and noncontributory to any self-insurance or insurance policy available to the University.
Building Access & Features
The ASUW Shell House is open to UW Students for open hours and available for private group rentals. Outside of these programs, the building is closed and not available to the public.
There are no volume restrictions for the ASUW Shell House given only one group can rent at a
time.
There are no linens provided at the ASUW Shell House or the Waterfront Great Room. Clients
should contact a caterer or rental company if linens are desired.
All parking is coordinated through UW Transportation Services.
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.
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.
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 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 天美影视传媒 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 天美影视传媒 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.