Columbia Center
The Columbia Center, formerly named the Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The 76-story structure is the tallest building in Seattle and the state of Washington, reaching a height of 933 ft (284 m). At the time of its completion, the Columbia Center was the tallest structure on the West Coast; as of 2017, it is the fourth-tallest, behind buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
| Columbia Center | |
|---|---|
Seen from Smith Tower in August 2007 | |
Location within downtown Seattle | |
| Former names | Bank of America Tower Columbia Seafirst Center |
| Record height | |
| Tallest in Seattle and Washington state since 1985[I] | |
| Preceded by | Safeco Plaza |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location | 701 Fifth Avenue Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47.60453°N 122.33069°W |
| Construction started | 1982 |
| Completed | January 12, 1985 |
| Opened | March 2, 1985 |
| Cost | US$200 million (approx. $567 million in 2023 dollars) |
| Owner | Gaw Capital Partners |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 933 ft (284 m) |
| Tip | 967 ft (295 m) |
| Roof | 937 ft (286 m) |
| Observatory | 902 ft (275 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 76 (76 & 7 below ground) |
| Floor area | 1,538,000 sq ft (142,900 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 48 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Chester Lindsey Architects |
| Developer | Martin Selig |
| Structural engineer | Magnusson Klemencic Associates (formerly Skilling Helle Christiansen Robertson) |
| Main contractor | Howard S. Wright Construction |
| Website | |
| columbiacenterseattle | |
| References | |
The Columbia Center, developed by Martin Selig and designed by Chester L. Lindsey Architects, began construction in 1982 and was completed in 1985. The building is primarily leased for class-A office spaces by various companies, with the lower floors including retail space and the upper floors featuring a public observatory and private club lounge. The tower has the highest public viewing area west of the Mississippi River. It occupies most of the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets.