The contract for tunneling and station construction on the project, since renamed the "Northgate Link extension", was awarded by Sound Transit to JCM Northlink LLC (a joint venture of Jay Dee, Coluccio, and Michels) for $462 million in 2013.
In May 2013, demolition of an existing Chase Bank branch and a university-owned property began at the future site of the station.
In December, a segment of Brooklyn Avenue NE was closed through the work zone as part of final preparations for the station site.
Construction of shoring walls and drilling of pilings in the station box was completed from April to August 2014, leading to the start of excavation the following month.
By the completion of excavation the following summer, over 135,000 cubic yards (103,000 m³) of dirt was removed from the site to reach a depth of 95 feet (29 m).
Concrete pouring of the station box began in July 2015, to prepare for the arrival of two tunnel boring machines (TBMs).

The first of the two TBMs to arrive at U District station was "Brenda" on November 6, 2015, completing the northbound tunnel from Northgate via Roosevelt station.
The second TBM, "Pamela", arrived later than expected on March 25, 2016, after stopping 650 feet (200 m) north of the station because of damage to the cutterhead and other parts that forced reduced speed to complete the southbound tunnel. "
Brenda", since renamed "TBM #1", finished both of the remaining tunnels to University of Washington station in March 2016 and September 2016.

In March 2017, the Sound Transit Board awarded a $159.8 million contract to Hoffman Construction to build U District station, including structural and architectural finishes.
Station construction began in August 2017 and is scheduled to last until 2020.
A design change approved in October 2018 will add a set of stairs between the mezzanine and platform due to escalator issues at other stations.
Light rail service at the station is anticipated to begin in 2021.
The contract for tunneling and station construction on the project, since renamed the "Northgate Link extension", was awarded by Sound Transit to JCM Northlink LLC (a joint venture of Jay Dee, Coluccio, and Michels) for $462 million in 2013. In May 2013, demolition of an existing Chase Bank branch and a university-owned property began at the future site of the station. In December, a segment of Brooklyn Avenue NE was closed through the work zone as part of final preparations for the station site. Construction of shoring walls and drilling of pilings in the station box was completed from April to August 2014, leading to the start of excavation the following month. By the completion of excavation the following summer, over 135,000 cubic yards (103,000 m³) of dirt was removed from the site to reach a depth of 95 feet (29 m). Concrete pouring of the station box began in July 2015, to prepare for the arrival of two tunnel boring machines (TBMs).
The first of the two TBMs to arrive at U District station was "Brenda" on November 6, 2015, completing the northbound tunnel from Northgate via Roosevelt station. The second TBM, "Pamela", arrived later than expected on March 25, 2016, after stopping 650 feet (200 m) north of the station because of damage to the cutterhead and other parts that forced reduced speed to complete the southbound tunnel. "Brenda", since renamed "TBM #1", finished both of the remaining tunnels to University of Washington station in March 2016 and September 2016.
In March 2017, the Sound Transit Board awarded a $159.8 million contract to Hoffman Construction to build U District station, including structural and architectural finishes. Station construction began in August 2017 and is scheduled to last until 2020. A design change approved in October 2018 will add a set of stairs between the mezzanine and platform due to escalator issues at other stations. Light rail service at the station is anticipated to begin in 2021.
U District station