The UW became a more urban campus today with the purchase of the Safeco tower. Don't get us wrong; we love the sprawling, verdant expanses, nooks, and crannies of the main campus. However, a properly urban university -- like its students -- should engage with its neighborhood by wandering beyond campus and fanning into the surrounding area.

We like having the UW as our neighbor and like it being positively involved in the neighborhood. We remember fondly the days when the College of Architecture and Urban Planning holed up some students in the current Tiger, Tiger location for a hands-on design studio.

Some time ago, Safeco Insurance announced that it would be moving out of its U District digs – most notably from its eponymous building -- and thus ending the company's long-time association with the University District. Seattlest was concerned with what would become of the building and the nearby intersection of Brooklyn and 45th. Brooklyn Ave. already is sort of a dirty, deserted, service-drive-like Railroad Way to the Ave.'s populous First Avenue. Unfortunately, the building and its plaza never seemed to work as a place for people. There were too many Suits; they looked out of place. Few people hung out. During the last few years, that corner never seemed to engage with the local culture.

We hope that UW's stewardship of the building will bring in a different and renewed energy to that intersection. It makes sense that the U District's largest landowner should also own its tallest building. Certainly, the University is no stranger to leasing commercial space in the neighborhood and this outright acquisition should bring more UW bustle to Brooklyn. Our fears of being stuck with a largely deserted and looming monolith have thus been ameliorated. We hope this move will bring more people and activity onto the sidewalks.

Seattlest sees potential for that block of Brooklyn and its intersection with NE 45th Street. Across the way is the lovely, Art Deco themed Edmund Meany Hotel (formerly), whose namesake demonstrates yet another strong connection to the University. On the other corner is a great theater as well as an awesome hot-dogeria. Add the gritty bus stop at the third corner and an influx of doughy-eyed, nubile, corruptible students participating in university bureaucracy and there's a recipe for success.

The Safeco tower is a stunning landmark for orienting yourself in the area. Seattlest has friends who do just that when they're in town. But what with the large, sans serif type announcing its soon-to-be-former tenant, how will the UW make the building its own? Will they blast clean the lettering? Will they put up a large, neon, purple W on top of the building -- reminiscent of the Woodward's W that used to bookend Vancouver's skyline? Perhaps install a zip line to main campus? As reasonably proud alumni, we suggest a super-cool observation deck up top so that we can take in views from the highest point in the U District.