Memorial trees and benches may be purchased by UW alumni, employees and students as well as members of the general public. Trees and benches may be placed in honor of individuals or organizations with a demonstrated connection to the University, such as students, alumni, faculty, staff, retirees or supporters. 

UW Tacoma Facilities coordinates the procurement, installation and maintenance of memorial trees and benches. Review the sections below for an overview and instructions on requesting a bench or tree.

How to make a request

After reviewing the information below, please email facility@uw.edu. You will receive a response within two weeks.

Memorial benches

Bench style and location must conform with the ADA resting bench program and long-range campus bench plan. Bench donation amount is $7,500 and is maintained in perpetuity at no additional cost.

UWT Facilities will work with the donor on site selection.

Plaque guidelines

The text on a plaque can be up to 4 lines of simple text, with a limit of 30 characters per line. Less is more: The best plaques look more like a poem than a sentence. Also, as the plaque is intended to honor a person or group, respectful and apolitical language is required.

Many plaques use larger text for the name of the honoree, with text below and above, such as:

  • Dedication (e.g., "In memory of" or "Forever in our hearts")
  • Name of honoree
  • Message and/or dates

Installation and ceremony

Average bench installation time is three months after submitting payment and the plaque text. The entire process can take 3 months to a year depending on the number of benches in progress. Although we make every effort to work within a timeline, we cannot guarantee an installation date.

Our Grounds team can assist in reserving the space where the memorial bench is located for a ceremony, if desired. You can perform your own ceremony, or you can work with an associated school or department for ceremony coordination.

Memorial trees

UWT Facilities will work with the donor on site selection. Trees are generally small (4-6 feet tall). Smaller trees require less water and establish faster than larger trees. Studies show smaller trees outgrow large tree planting within a few years. Memorial trees cost $1,000. This includes the procurement, planting and maintenance of the tree for the first year.

Planting and ceremony

Trees can be requested at any time. Depending on the location, timing, tree availability and site factors, the tree will be planted between October and April. No memorial plaques are allowed to be installed with the tree plantings.

UWT Facilities will maintain the tree as a part of the University’s plant collection.

Our Grounds team can assist in reserving the space where the memorial tree is located for a ceremony, if desired. You can perform your own ceremony, or you can work with an associated school or department for ceremony coordination.

If you choose to have a ceremony, UWT Gardeners will plant your tree prior to your ceremony date. The planting process is time-consuming and a bit messy, so we like to tidy everything up beforehand. If requested, we will leave a small pile of mulch for you to “finish” the planting as part of your ceremony.