List of tallest buildings in Seattle

Skyline of Seattle

This list of tallest buildings in Seattle ranks skyscrapers in the U.S. city of Seattle, Washington by height. The tallest building in Seattle is the 76-story Columbia Center, which rises 937 feet (286 m) and was completed in 1985.[1] It is currently the 19th-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 Washington Mutual Tower, which rises 772 feet (235 m).[2] Nineteen of the twenty tallest buildings in Washington are located in Seattle.[3]

The history of skyscrapers in Seattle began with the 1904 completion of the Alaska Building, which is often regarded as the first steel-framed skyscraper in the city;[4] it rises 14 floors and 203 feet (62 m) in height.[5] 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 Washington Mutual Tower. 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. Based on 12 skyscrapers[A] at least 500 feet (152 m) tall, and two more under construction, Seattle's skyline is ranked first in the Northwestern United States, third on the West Coast (after Los Angeles and San Francisco) and eleventh in the United States.[B]

As of May 2008, there are 204 completed high-rises in the city, and 63 high-rise buildings under construction, approved for construction, and proposed for construction,[6] including 22 buildings over 400 feet (122 m). The tallest building under construction in the city is the Fifth and Columbia Tower. The building, set to be completed by 2011, would rise 43 floors and 660 feet (201 m) in height.[7]

Contents
Skyline of Seattle
Skyline of Seattle

Tallest buildings

Columbia Center, Seattle's tallest building
Washington Mutual Tower, the 2nd-tallest building in Seattle
One and Two Union Square, the 17th- and 3rd-tallest buildings in the city
1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza is the 5th-talltest building in Seattle.
The Space Needle is the tallest non-building structure in Seattle.

This list ranks Seattle skyscrapers that stand at least 400 feet (122 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. Existing structures are included for ranking purposes based on present height. Freestanding observation towers, while not habitable buildings, are included for comparison purposes; however, they are not ranked.

Rank Name Height
ft / m		 Floors Year Notes
01.01 Columbia Center 937 / 285 76 1985 52nd-tallest building in the world, 19th-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 when completed, now the second-tallest. Has more floors than any other building west of the Mississippi River. Highest observation deck in the state is located on the building's 73rd floor. Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1980s.[1][8]
02.02 Washington Mutual Tower 772 / 235 55 1988 191st-tallest building in the world, 55th-tallest in the United States.[2][9]
03.03 Two Union Square 740 / 226 56 1989 79th-tallest building in the United States.[10][11]
04.04 Seattle Municipal Tower 722 / 220 62 1990 94th-tallest building in the United States. Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1990s. Home of the world class Seattle Public Utilities[12][13]
05.05 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza 630 / 192 50 1969 Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1960s.[14][15]
06.0 Space Needle[C] 605 / 184 5 1962 Tallest observation tower in Washington, 3rd-tallest in the United States.[16][17]
07.06 WaMu Center 598 / 182 42 2006 Most recently completed skyscraper in the city.[18][19]
08.07 US Bank Centre 580 / 177 44 1989 [20][21]
09.08 Wells Fargo Center 573 / 175 47 1983 [22][23]
10.09 Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza 543 / 166 42 1981 [24][25]
11.010 Union Bank of California Center 536 / 163 41 1973 Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1970s.[26][27]
12.011 Rainier Tower 514 / 157 31 1977 [28][29]
13.012 Fourth and Madison Building 512 / 156 40 2002 [30][31]
14.013 1000 Second Avenue 493 / 150 43 1987 [32][33]
15.014 Henry M. Jackson Federal Building 487 / 148 37 1974 [34][35]
16.015 Qwest Plaza 479 / 146 33 1976 [36][37]
17.016 Smith Tower 462 / 141 42 1914 Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1910s.[38][39]
18.017 One Union Square 456 / 139 36 1981 [40][41]
19.018 1111 Third Avenue 454 / 138 34 1980 [42][43]
20.019 Westin Seattle North Tower 449 / 137 47 1982 Tallest all-hotel building in the city.[44][45]
21.020 Westin Building 409 / 125 34 1981 [46][47]

Tallest under construction, approved and proposed

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
Fifth and Columbia Tower 660 / 201 43 2010 [7][48][49]
1918 Eighth Avenue 500 / 152 36 2009 [50]
Olive 8 455 / 139 39 2008 [51][52]
1521 Second Avenue 440 / 134 38 2009 [53][54]
Seventh at Westlake Tower 426 / 130 32 2008 Construction is on hold.[55]
Aspira 400 / 122 37 2009 [56]

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
505 Madison 560 / 171 40 2010 [57][58]
2000 Third Avenue 450 / 137 43 2009 [59]
AVA 445 / 136 39 2010 [60]
Candela Hotel & Residences 410 / 125 36 2012 [61]
Insignia I 400 / 122 41 2009 [62]
Insignia II 400 / 122 41 2010 [63]

* Table entries without text indicate that information regarding one or more of building heights, floor counts, and dates of completion has not yet been released.

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
Heron Tower 550 / 168 46 2010 [64][65]
Pagoda Tower 550 / 168 40 2010 [66]
Seattle Civic Square 520 / 159 40 2011 [67][68]
811 Stewart Hotel 500 / 152 51 2013 [69]
Kinetcs 440 / 134 40 2011 [70]
2015 2nd Avenue 440 / 134 38 2010 [71]
1931 2nd Avenue 440 / 134 38 2010 [72]
Stewart / Minor 440 / 134 32 [73]
901 Lenora 400 / 122 40 [74]
8th and Stewart Condominiums 400 / 122 38 2009 [75]
1012 1st Avenue 400 / 122 36 2011 [76]

* Table entries without text indicate that information regarding one or more of building heights, floor counts, and dates of completion has not yet been released.

Timeline of tallest buildings

The Smith Tower, which stood as the tallest building in Seattle for 55 years

This lists buildings and structures that once held the title of tallest building in Seattle.

Name Street address Years as tallest Height
ft / m		 Floors Reference
Alaska Building 618 Second Avenue 1904–1906 203 / 62 14 [77]
King Street Station Tower 303 South Jackson Street 1906–1914 246 / 75 8 [78]
Smith Tower 506 Second Avenue 1914–1961 489 / 149 38 [39]
The Space Needle 1961–1969 605 / 184 5
1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza 1001 4th Avenue 1969–1985 630 / 192 50 [15]
Columbia Center 701 5th Avenue 1985–present 937 / 285 76 [8]

See also

Notes

A. ^ This excludes the Space Needle, as it is not a fully habitable building.
B. ^ New York has 216 existing and under construction buildings over 500 feet (152 m), Chicago has 107, Miami has 37, Houston has 31, Los Angeles has 22, Dallas has 19, Atlanta has 19, San Francisco has 18, Las Vegas has 17, Boston has 16 and Seattle has 14. Source of skyline ranking information: SkyscraperPage.com: New York, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston, Seattle.
C. ^ The Space Needle is not a habitable building, but is included in this list for comparative purposes. Per a ruling by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, freestanding observation towers are not considered to be buildings, as they are not fully habitable structures.

References

General
Specific
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Columbia Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Washington Mutual Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  3. ↑ "Diagram of Washington skyscrapers". Skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.
  4. ↑ "Alaska Building, Seattle's first steel-framed skyscraper, is completed in 1904.". HistoryLink.org. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  5. ↑ "Alaska Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  6. ↑ "High Rise Buildings of Seattle". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Fifth and Columbia Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Columbia Center". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  9. ↑ "Washington Mutual Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  10. ↑ "Two Union Square". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  11. ↑ "Two Union Square". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  12. ↑ "Seattle Municipal Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  13. ↑ "Seattle Municipal Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  14. ↑ "1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  16. ↑ "Space Needle". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  17. ↑ "Space Needle". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  18. ↑ "WaMu Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  19. ↑ "WaMu Center". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  20. ↑ "City Centre". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  21. ↑ "U.S. Bank Centre". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  22. ↑ "Wells Fargo Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  23. ↑ "Wells Fargo Center". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  24. ↑ "Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  25. ↑ "Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  26. ↑ "Union Bank of California Center". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  27. ↑ "Union Bank of California Center". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  28. ↑ "Rainier Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  29. ↑ "Rainier Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  30. ↑ "IDX Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  31. ↑ "IDX Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  32. ↑ "1000 Second Avenue". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  33. ↑ "1000 Second Avenue". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  34. ↑ "Henry M. Jackson Federal Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  35. ↑ "Henry M. Jackson Federal Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  36. ↑ "Qwest Plaza". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  37. ↑ "Qwest Plaza". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  38. ↑ "Smith Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Smith Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  40. ↑ "One Union Square". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  41. ↑ "One Union Square". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  42. ↑ "1111 Third Avenue". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  43. ↑ "1111 Third Avenue". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  44. ↑ "Westin Seattle North Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  45. ↑ "Westin Seattle North Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  46. ↑ "Westin Building". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-27.
  47. ↑ "Westin Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  48. ↑ "Fifth and Columbia". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  49. ↑ "A new angle on Seattle's skyline", The Seattle Times (2008-02-11). Retrieved on 2008-02-15. 
  50. ↑ "1918 Eighth Avenue". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  51. ↑ "Olive 8". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  52. ↑ "Olive 8". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  53. ↑ "Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  54. ↑ "1521 Second". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  55. ↑ "Seventh at Westlake Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  56. ↑ "Aspira". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  57. ↑ "505 Madison". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
  58. ↑ "Design Proposal" (PDF). seattle.gov. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
  59. ↑ "2000 Third Avenue". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  60. ↑ "AVA". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  61. ↑ "Candela Hotel & Residences". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  62. ↑ "Insignia I". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  63. ↑ "Insignia II". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  64. ↑ "Heron Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  65. ↑ "Heron Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  66. ↑ "Pagoda Tower". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  67. ↑ "Seattle Civic Square". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  68. ↑ "Seattle Civic Square". Thestranger.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  69. ↑ "811 Stewart Hotel". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  70. ↑ "Kinetcs". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  71. ↑ "2015 2nd Avenue". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  72. ↑ "1931 2nd Avenue". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  73. ↑ "Stewart / Minor". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
  74. ↑ "901 Lenora". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  75. ↑ "8th and Stewart Condominiums". Emporis.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  76. ↑ "Ten Twelve First Avenue, Seattle - SkyscraperPage.com". Skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved on 2008-11-30.
  77. ↑ "Alaska Building". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.
  78. ↑ "King Street Station Tower". SkyscraperPage.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.

External links

Seattle, Washington skyscrapers and towers
Current
Columbia Center · Washington Mutual Tower · Two Union Square · Seattle Municipal Tower · 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza · Space Needle · WaMu Center · US Bank Centre · Wells Fargo Center · Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza · Union Bank of California Center · Rainier Tower · IBM Building · Fourth and Madison Building · 1000 Second Avenue · Henry M. Jackson Federal Building · Smith Tower · Qwest Plaza · One Union Square · 1111 Third Avenue · Westin Seattle North Tower · UW Tower · Exchange Building (Seattle, Washington) · Westin Building
Proposed
Heron Tower · 1823 Minor · 2015 2nd Avenue · 1931 2nd Avenue · 8th and Stewart Condominiums
Approved
2000 Third Avenue · AVA · Seventh at Westlake Tower · Second and Pike Condominiums · 2301 6th Avenue Tower I · 2301 6th Avenue Tower II
Under construction
1918 Eighth Avenue · Olive 8 · Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue
See also
List of tallest buildings in Seattle
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