Washington State Convention Center Expansion
Seattle, Washington
Project Size:
New area: 325,000 square feetRenovated area: 117,000 square feet
Project Status:
Completed 2001
Services:
Civic Design, Convention Center Design, Urban Design
Selected Awards
2002 Lumen
West Award of Merit
2002 International Illumination
Design Award of Merit
The expansion of the Washington State Convention Center creates an important new public space beneath a dramatic, block-long canopy of glass and offers views of the downtown skyline, Puget Sound and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains.
The existing building occupied a challenging site that spans a freeway and links the downtown core to adjacent residential neighborhoods. To provide contiguous heavy-load exhibit space, the 100,000 square foot expansion is connected to the existing facility over Pike Street.
As part of a multi-use complex that also includes offices, retail and hotel, the expanded convention facility now makes a strong connection to the heart of the downtown retail core. Two separate street crossings are provided, a pedestrian bridge which links the exhibit hall expansion with the expanded lobby, and a vehicular bridge that accommodates loading and exhibit servicing. New public space formed by the unifying roof structure embellishes the building’s civic presence within its urban realm.