Seattle Convention Center, Summit Building - Exterior

Seattle Convention Center Summit Building

Location

Seattle, Washington

Owner

Seattle Convention Center

Collaborators +

Associate Architects: Graham Baba Architects, Scharrer AD, Rolluda Architects, Tiscareno Associates

Owner's Representative: Pine Street Group

General Contractor / Construction Management: Clark/Lewis

Structural Engineering: Magnusson Klemencic Associates

MEP Engineering: Arup

Civil Engineering: Magnusson Klemencic Associates

Landscape Architecture: Gustafson Guthrie Nichol

Lighting Design: Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design

Graphics/Signage: Studio Matthews

Food Service: Ricca Design Studios

Project Size

1,500,000 square feet

Parking Garage: 20,000 square feet

Project Status

Completed

Certifications

Certified LEED New Construction Platinum

Services

Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, Urban Design

The Seattle Convention Center Summit building presents a transformative opportunity at the intersection of an emerging culture of the delegate of the future, the evolving trends in the convention center industry and the development of Seattle’s urban core. As a catalyst for revitalizing and re-connecting Seattle’s core neighborhoods, the integration of Summit with its surroundings will be the basis for a rich and unique experience for both delegates and residents, an experience that is unique to Seattle.

Located at the crossroads between more than seven of Seattle’s most iconic neighborhoods and touching four of its most prominent streets, the site positions the project to uniquely function as a connecting hub for multiple urban districts, redefining the long-anticipated mixed-use development zone north of the downtown retail core. The building engages the urban form at all its 15 levels while each façade presents a highly interactive, transparent edge, blurring the boundaries of the site with the city context and the building program. Each program component embraces natural light and the major program spaces are connected vertically with two large atriums.

A glass-enclosed stair along Pine Street positions the interior circulation patterns at the edge of the building, creating dramatic west-facing views to the Pike Place Market and Puget Sound, and broadcasting the energy of convention visitors. A street plaza at the corner of Pine and 9th Avenue collects the activity of residents and visitors alike. The project’s contributions to the public realm are as massive as its scale, navigating a diverse mix of public-private intersections while catering to the next generation of convention delegates.

Photography: Tim Griffith, Adam Hunter

Seattle Convention Center, Summit Building - Interior

Wood and wood products are prominently featured throughout the interior of the building. From intricately crafted light fixtures to the design of several feature ceilings, there are unique wood elements to experience in numerous locations throughout the project. The use of this treasured regional resource offers a direct connection to the history of the timber industry in the Pacific Northwest.

Selected Awards

2024 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence, Special Mention

2024 Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards, Honorable Mention, Interior Design Category

2024 Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards, Finalist, Hospitality Category

2024 Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau Awards, Exterior Commercial

2023 Hospitality Design Award, Event Space Category

2023 AIA Seattle Honor Awards, Honorable Mention

2023 Core77 Design Awards, Visual Communication Award

2023 Meetings Today Best of Awards, Best Convention Center

2023 SEGD Designers of Experience Global Design Awards, Merit Award

2022 Smart Meetings Platinum Choice Awards

2022 World Design Award