List of tallest buildings in Seattle
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
city of Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
is the 76-story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
Columbia Center
Columbia Center
Columbia Center is the tallest skyscraper in the downtown Seattle skyline, as well as the tallest building in the State of Washington, and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It occupies most of the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets...
, which rises 937 feet (286 m) and was completed in 1985. It is currently the 20th-tallest building in the United States, and the tallest building in the state of Washington. The second-tallest skyscraper in the city and the state is the 1201 Third Avenue
1201 Third Avenue
1201 Third Avenue, formerly Washington Mutual Tower is the second tallest skyscraper in the downtown Seattle skyline. At 55 stories and , it is the eighth tallest skyscraper on the West Coast. Developed by Wright Runstad & Company, construction began in 1986 and finished in 1988. The building was...
, which rises 772 feet (235 m). Nineteen of the twenty tallest buildings in Washington are located in Seattle.
The history of skyscrapers in Seattle began with the 1904 completion of the Alaska Building
Alaska Building
Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square, formerly the Alaska Building is a 15-floor building in Seattle, Washington completed in 1904 to designs by St. Louis architects Eames and Young. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest building in Seattle.The building was purchased by...
, which is often regarded as the first steel-framed skyscraper in the city; it rises 14 floors and 203 feet (62 m) in height. Seattle went through a large construction boom in the late 1970s and 1980s, resulting in the construction of 15 of the city's 20 tallest buildings, including Columbia Center and the 1201 Third Avenue. Seattle entered into another high-rise construction boom in 2000, and has since seen the completion of two buildings that stand at least 500 feet (152 m) in height. Today, Seattle boasts 12 completed skyscrapers that rise at least 500 feet (152 m) in height, with two more under construction. Seattle's skyline is ranked first in the Northwestern United States
Northwestern United States
The Northwestern United States comprise the northwestern states up to the western Great Plains regions of the United States, and consistently include the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, to which part of southeast Alaska is also sometimes included...
, third on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
(after Los Angeles and San Francisco) and eleventh in the United States.
, there are 204 completed high-rises in the city, and 63 high-rise buildings under construction, approved for construction, and proposed for construction, including 22 buildings over 400 feet (122 m).
Tallest buildings
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
s, while not habitable buildings, are included for comparison purposes; however, they are not ranked.
| Rank | Name | Height ft / m |
Floors | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia Center Columbia Center Columbia Center is the tallest skyscraper in the downtown Seattle skyline, as well as the tallest building in the State of Washington, and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It occupies most of the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets... |
968 / 285 | 76 | 1985 | 84th-tallest building in the world; 20th-tallest in the United States; has been the tallest building in Seattle and the state of Washington since 1985; tallest building on the West Coast West Coast of the United States West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in... when completed, now the second-tallest; has more floors than any other building west of the Mississippi River Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains... ; highest observation deck Observation deck __FORCETOC__ An observation deck, observation platform or viewing platform is an elevated sightseeing platform usually situated upon a tall architectural structure such as a skyscraper or observation tower... in the state is located on the building's 73rd floor; tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1980s |
| 2 | 1201 Third Avenue 1201 Third Avenue 1201 Third Avenue, formerly Washington Mutual Tower is the second tallest skyscraper in the downtown Seattle skyline. At 55 stories and , it is the eighth tallest skyscraper on the West Coast. Developed by Wright Runstad & Company, construction began in 1986 and finished in 1988. The building was... |
772 / 235 | 55 | 1988 | 197th-tallest building in the world; 60th-tallest in the United States |
| 3 | Two Union Square Union Square (Seattle) Union Square is a twin tower skyscraper complex at Sixth Avenue between Union and University Streets in downtown Seattle, Washington, adjacent to Freeway Park.- One Union Square :One Union Square is an aluminum clad skyscraper consisting of 36 floors... |
740 / 226 | 56 | 1989 | 88th-tallest building in the United States |
| 4 | Seattle Municipal Tower Seattle Municipal Tower Seattle Municipal Tower is a 62-story skyscraper located at 700 5th Avenue at the corner of 5th Avenue and Columbia Street in downtown Seattle, Washington. Rising to , it is the fourth tallest high-rise building in Seattle... |
722 / 220 | 62 | 1990 | 105th-tallest building in the United States; tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1990s |
| 5 | Safeco Plaza 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza Safeco Plaza, previously 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza, and the Seattle-First National Bank Building, is a 50-floor building in downtown Seattle, Washington. Locals nicknamed it "The Box the Space Needle Came In"... |
630 / 192 | 50 | 1969 | Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1960s |
| Space Needle Space Needle The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over... |
605 / 184 | 5 | 1962 | Tallest observation tower in Washington, 3rd-tallest in the United States | |
| 6 | Russell Investments Center Russell Investments Center Russell Investments Center is a skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. On its completion, it was the largest skyscraper to mark the downtown Seattle skyline in nearly 15 years, and is the city's sixth tallest building, at, with 42 floors. It was originally named WaMu Center because it was built to... |
598 / 182 | 42 | 2006 | Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 2000s |
| 7 | US Bank Centre US Bank Centre US Bank Centre is a skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. It was constructed from 1987 to 1989 and has 44 floors. It is the eighth tallest building in Seattle and was designed by Callison Architecture. It opened as Pacific First Centre and has of office space.... |
580 / 177 | 44 | 1989 | |
| 8 | Wells Fargo Center Wells Fargo Center (Seattle) Wells Fargo Center is a skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. Formerly named First Interstate Center when completed in 1983, the 47 storey, tower is now the ninth tallest building in the city, and has 24 elevators. of rentable space... |
573 / 175 | 47 | 1983 | |
| 9 | Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza is a skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. It was constructed from 1979 to 1981 and has 42 floors. It is the 9th tallest building in Seattle and as designed by 3D/International. The building has been able to retain a minimum of 98% occupancy since it was... |
543 / 166 | 42 | 1981 | |
| 10 | Union Bank of California Center Union Bank of California Center 901 Fifth Avenue is a skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. It was completed in 1973 and has 42 floors. It is the 11th tallest building in Seattle, and was designed by John Graham and Associates. The building was opened as the Bank of California Building. Flood lights illuminate all sides of the... |
536 / 163 | 41 | 1973 | Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1970s |
| 11 | Rainier Tower Rainier Tower Rainier Tower is a 31-storey skyscraper in the Metropolitan Tract of Seattle, Washington, at 1301 Fifth Avenue. It was designed by Minoru Yamasaki, who designed the World Trade Center in New York City as well as the IBM Building, which is on the corner across the street from Rainier Tower to the... |
514 / 157 | 31 | 1977 | |
| 12 | Fourth and Madison Building Fourth and Madison Building The Fourth and Madison Building is a 40-story skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington. The building is located at 925 Fourth Avenue, at the intersection with Madison Street. Upon its completion in 2002, the late-modernist highrise was Seattle's first building to exceed 500 feet in over a... |
512 / 156 | 40 | 2002 | |
| 13 | 1918 Eighth Avenue 1918 Eighth Avenue 1918 Eighth Avenue is a 500 ft tall skyscraper in the Denny Regrade neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It was completed in 2009 and has 36 floors, consisting mostly of office space. On August 25, 2008, the tower gained its first tenant, law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro. The firm leased ... |
500 / 152 | 36 | 2009 | Most recently completed skyscraper in the city |
| 14 | Qwest Plaza Qwest Plaza Qwest Plaza is a 33-floor skyscraper in Seattle, Washington, completed in 1976, the 13th tallest building in Seattle, and designed by John Graham & Company. It was originally known as the Pacific Northwest Bell Building, and has also been called 1600 Bell Plaza, and US West Communications.... |
498 / 151 | 33 | 1976 | |
| 15 | 1000 Second Avenue 1000 Second Avenue 1000 Second Avenue is a skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. It was completed in 1987 and has 43 floors. Originally known as Key Tower, it is the fourteenth tallest building in Seattle.... |
493 / 150 | 43 | 1987 | |
| 17 | Smith Tower Smith Tower Smith Tower is a skyscraper in Pioneer Square in Seattle, Washington. Completed in 1914, the 38 storey, tower is the oldest skyscraper in the city and was the tallest office building west of the Mississippi River until the Kansas City Power & Light Building was built in 1931... |
489 / 141 | 42 | 1914 | Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1910s |
| 16 | Henry M. Jackson Federal Building Henry M. Jackson Federal Building The Henry M. Jackson Federal Building is a 37-story United States Federal Government skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington. Located on the block bounded by Marion and Madison Streets and First and Second Avenues, the building was completed in 1974 and won the Honor Award of the American... |
487 / 148 | 37 | 1974 | |
| 18 | One Union Square Union Square (Seattle) Union Square is a twin tower skyscraper complex at Sixth Avenue between Union and University Streets in downtown Seattle, Washington, adjacent to Freeway Park.- One Union Square :One Union Square is an aluminum clad skyscraper consisting of 36 floors... |
456 / 139 | 36 | 1981 | |
| 19 | Olive 8 Olive 8 Olive 8 is a , 39 floor mixed-use skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. It has 229 residential condominium homes above a Hyatt Hotel. It is located at Eighth Avenue and Olive Street in downtown Seattle and is the largest residential building in the city... |
455 / 139 | 39 | 2009 | |
| 20 | 1111 Third Avenue 1111 Third Avenue 1111 Third Avenue is a 454 ft tall skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. It was completed in 1980 and has 34 floors. It is the 19th tallest building in Seattle, and is owned by EOP Northwest Properties LLC. It has an award-winning outdoor landscaped area with seating and tables accented by... |
454 / 138 | 34 | 1980 | |
| 21 | Westin Seattle North Tower The Westin Seattle The Westin Seattle is a twin tower highrise hotel in Seattle, Washington. The 47-storey north tower, completed in 1982 is the tallest hotel tower in the city. The south tower, with 40 floors at was completed in 1969... |
449 / 137 | 47 | 1982 | Tallest all-hotel building in the city |
| 22 | Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue is a skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. Designed by Weber + Thompson, it is a residential building with 38 stories, and 143 individual homes. The building is located near the historic Pike Place Market. Construction was completed in late 2008.-External links:*... |
440 / 134 | 38 | 2008 | |
| 23 | Westin Building Westin Building The Westin Building is a major telecommunications hub and carrier hotel facility located in downtown Seattle, Washington. Though building receives its name from the Westin that made its home there when the building was first completed, it is also home to the Seattle Internet Exchange and Pacific... |
409 / 125 | 34 | 1981 | |
| 24 | Aspira Aspira Aspira is a 400 ft tall skyscraper in the Denny Triangle neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It has 37 floors, and mostly consists of apartments. Construction ended in late 2009.... |
400 / 122 | 37 | 2009 |
Under construction
This lists skyscrapers that are under construction in Seattle that are expected to rise over 400 feet (122 m), but are not yet completed structures.| Name | Height ft / m |
Floors | Year (est.) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seventh at Westlake Tower Seventh at Westlake Tower Seventh at Westlake Tower will be a 31 story, 426 ft skyscraper in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The lower 16 floors will be used as office space, and the top 17 floors will be 184 residential spaces.... |
426 / 130 | 32 | TBA |
Approved
This lists skyscrapers that are approved for construction in Seattle that are expected to rise over 400 feet (122 m), but are not yet completed structures.| Name | Height ft / m |
Floors | Year* (est.) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fifth and Columbia Tower Fifth and Columbia Tower Fifth and Columbia Tower is a 660ft tall skyscraper approved for construction in Seattle, Washington. It will be completed in 2014 and have 43 floors. It was designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca and is being developed by Daniels Development Company. When the building is completed it will be the fifth... |
660 / 201 | 43 | 2014 | |
| 505 Madison 505 Madison 505 Madison is a 560 ft tall skyscraper under construction in Seattle, Washington. It is scheduled to be completed in 2010 and have 40 floors. It will be the 10th tallest building in Seattle and was designed by NBBJ.... |
560 / 171 | 40 | 2010 | |
| AVA AVA (Building) AVA is an approved 445 ft tall skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. The building, designed by Weber + Thompson, will have 39 floors, and will be located at 8th Avenue and Pine Street. There will be a luxury hotel on floors 10 through 17, with 200 condominiums comprising the upper floors.... |
445 / 136 | 39 | 2010 | |
| Candela Hotel & Residences Candela Hotel & Residences Candela Hotel & Residences is an approved 410 ft tall skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. It will have 36 floors, and will be located near the historic Pike Place Market at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Pike Street. The architecture of the building is particularly interesting as it is... |
410 / 125 | 36 | 2012 |
Proposed
This lists skyscrapers that are proposed for construction in Seattle that are expected to rise over 400 feet (122 m), but are not yet completed structures.| Name | Height ft / m |
Floors | Year* (est.) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald City Tower I | 1000+ / 305+ | 82 | ||
| Emerald City Tower II | 550 / 168 | 40 | ||
| Seattle Civic Square Seattle Civic Square The Seattle Civic Square is a proposed tall skyscraper in Seattle, Washington. It is proposed to be completed in 2011 and have 40 floors. The top 17 floors will consist mainly of condominiums, with the lower 23 floors being used as office space. It has been designed to meet LEED Platinum standards... |
520 / 159 | 40 | 2011 | |
| 811 Stewart Hotel 811 Stewart Hotel 811 Stewart Hotel is a tall proposed skyscraper in the Denny Triangle neighbourhood of Seattle, Washington. It is scheduled to be completed in 2013 and will have 51 floors. It will also include of convention space, meeting rooms, two ballrooms, a restaurant, parking for 1,100 cars, and 1,200 rooms... |
500 / 152 | 51 | 2013 | |
| Kinects | 440 / 134 | 40 | 2011 | |
| Trophy Building | 440 / 134 | 40 | 2010 | |
| 2015 2nd Avenue | 440 / 134 | 38 | 2010 | |
| 1931 2nd Avenue | 440 / 134 | 38 | 2010 | |
| Stewart / Minor | 440 / 134 | 32 | 2011 | Project is on-hold. |
| 901 Lenora | 400 / 122 | 40 | ||
| 8th and Stewart Condominiums | 400 / 122 | 38 | 2009 | |
| 1012 1st Avenue | 400 / 122 | 36 | 2011 |
Timeline of tallest buildings
This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Seattle. The Space NeedleSpace Needle
The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over...
is not a building, and is thus not included in this list; the 605 feet (184 m) tower was the tallest structure in the city from 1961 to 1969. Likewise the Old King County Courthouse stood as the tallest structure from 1890 to 1904.
| Name | Street address | Years as tallest | Height ft / m |
Floors | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Building | 612 First Avenue | 1892–1904 | 110 / 34 | 6 | |
| Alaska Building Alaska Building Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square, formerly the Alaska Building is a 15-floor building in Seattle, Washington completed in 1904 to designs by St. Louis architects Eames and Young. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest building in Seattle.The building was purchased by... |
618 Second Avenue | 1904–1906 | 203 / 62 | 14 | |
| King Street Station Tower King Street Station (Seattle) King Street Station is a train station in Seattle, Washington. Located between South King and South Jackson streets and Second and Fourth Avenue South in the Pioneer Square neighborhood of Seattle, the station is just south of downtown... |
303 South Jackson Street | 1906–1914 | 246 / 75 | 8 | |
| Smith Tower Smith Tower Smith Tower is a skyscraper in Pioneer Square in Seattle, Washington. Completed in 1914, the 38 storey, tower is the oldest skyscraper in the city and was the tallest office building west of the Mississippi River until the Kansas City Power & Light Building was built in 1931... |
506 Second Avenue | 1914–1969 | 489 / 149 | 38 | |
| 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza Safeco Plaza, previously 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza, and the Seattle-First National Bank Building, is a 50-floor building in downtown Seattle, Washington. Locals nicknamed it "The Box the Space Needle Came In"... |
1001 4th Avenue | 1969–1985 | 630 / 192 | 50 | |
| Columbia Center Columbia Center Columbia Center is the tallest skyscraper in the downtown Seattle skyline, as well as the tallest building in the State of Washington, and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It occupies most of the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets... |
701 5th Avenue | 1985–present | 937 / 285 | 76 |
External links
- Diagram of Seattle skyscrapers on SkyscraperPage