diff --git a/spec/stdlib/template-spec.coffee b/spec/stdlib/template-spec.coffee
index 299a0aa4f..184fd0cae 100644
--- a/spec/stdlib/template-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/stdlib/template-spec.coffee
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ fdescribe "Template", ->
             @li outlet: 'li1', class: 'foo', "one"
             @li outlet: 'li2', class: 'bar', "two"
 
+        viewProperties:
+          initialize: (attrs) ->
+            @initializeCalledWith = attrs
+          foo: "bar"
+
       view = Foo.build(title: "Zebra")
 
     afterEach ->
@@ -29,6 +34,11 @@ fdescribe "Template", ->
         expect(view.find("ol > li.foo:contains(one)")).toExist()
         expect(view.find("ol > li.bar:contains(two)")).toExist()
 
+      it "extends the view with viewProperties, calling the 'constructor' property if present", ->
+        expect(view.constructor).toBeDefined()
+        expect(view.foo).toBe("bar")
+        expect(view.initializeCalledWith).toEqual(title: "Zebra")
+
       it "wires references for elements with 'outlet' attributes", ->
         expect(view.li1).toMatchSelector("li.foo:contains(one)")
         expect(view.li2).toMatchSelector("li.bar:contains(two)")
diff --git a/src/stdlib/template.coffee b/src/stdlib/template.coffee
index 49c3d3197..cb4f7a31f 100644
--- a/src/stdlib/template.coffee
+++ b/src/stdlib/template.coffee
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ class Template
     @content(attributes)
     view = @builder.toFragment()
     @wireOutlets(view)
+    if @viewProperties
+      $.extend(view, @viewProperties)
+    view.initialize?(attributes)
     view
 
   wireOutlets: (view) ->