Seattle Coliseum courtesy Wikimedia Commons
World's Fair Influence
MoPOP 365 Focus Photography/Shutterstock
Famous Architects
Seaboard Building courtesy image
Historic Buildings
The Spheres Mariana Ianovska/Shutterstock
New & Refreshed
BACK TO TOP
WORLD’S FAIR FINDING
A retrovision of the future
The Space Needle is the most recognizable figure in Seattle’s skyline, and it’s part of a much bigger story. Its home, Seattle Center, was the site of the 1962 World’s Fair. At the height of the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, amid Seattle’s aeronautics boom and in the same year the classic animated series The Jetsons premiered, World’s Fair chief architect Paul Thiry’s vision led to an ambitious collection of futurist works: organic curves distilled into clean lines, dramatic rooflines, and anything that looked like a spaceship. Where these bold creations once predicted what would come, they now transport viewers back in time to a bygone era.
Read about the history of the iconic structures that still stand in Seattle Center today:
Space Needle Andrea Leopardi/unsplash
Space Needle
This icon, which would become the tallest building west of the Mississippi for a time, started as a doodle on a napkin by fair commissioner Eddie Carlson, inspired by Germany’s Stuttgart Tower. Three architects made it a reality: Pike Place Market preservationist Victor Steinbrueck worked on the tower base; John T. Ridley led design of the top crown; and John Graham, Jr., focused on the distinctive flying-saucer shape.
The 605-foot-tall tower took less than a year to build and debuted with loud, space-themed colors: Orbital Olive, Re-Entry Red, and Galaxy Gold. A drastic remodel, inspired by early concept sketches and completed in 2018, gave the lower observation deck the world’s only rotating glass floor and added angled windows on the upper level for even more compelling views. *400 Broad St; spaceneedle.com
Seattle Center Monorail courtesy MOHAI
Seattle Center Monorail
The elevated train continues to fulfill its original function, quickly shuttling riders between Westlake Center downtown and the former fairgrounds. It sees its highest ridership during festivals and sporting events—and both terminals received an upgrade to handle the new Seattle Kraken fan base. *seattlemonorail.com
Climate Pledge Arena
Look for the tent-like roof, designed by Thiry to look like a Native American rain hat, atop this landmark structure. Originally Seattle Center Coliseum, then KeyArena, in its latest incarnation it strives to be a zero-waste, carbon-zero, water-conserving pioneer. It now houses the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and the long-anticipated Seattle Kraken NHL team, with plans to continue hosting first-rate live music performances. *334 First Ave; climatepledgearena.com
Andrew Jacob Media
Pacific Science Center
Fair planners sought a throwaway design for their science pavilion, but architect Minoru Yamasaki (who later designed New York’s World Trade Center towers) drew inspiration from Gothic arches, Islamic temples, and Japanese design for a timeless creation that now houses a popular museum: a set of arches emerging from a courtyard fountain, surrounded by blocky buildings with a whimsical white façade. *200 Second Ave N; pacificsciencecenter.org
International Fountain Andrew Jacob Media
International Fountain
The concept of space exploration inspired Japanese architects Kazuyuki Matsushita and Hideki Shimizu, whose huge fountain is a charming piece of interactive art, often synced to music and newly refreshed with lights. 305 Harrison St
SPACE-AGE SCAVENGER HUNT
See if you can spot the World’s Fair influence in other Seattle buildings.
In 1961, Roland Terry—who helped the city transition the World’s Fair site from a onetime fairground into Seattle Center, a destination that continues to serve the city many years later—designed a futuristic take on a drive-in in Lake City, just north of Seattle. It now houses the bottle shop Growler Guys (8500 Lake City Way NE; thegrowlerguys.com). The Westin Seattle (*1900 Fifth Ave; westinseattle.com), finished in 1969, owes its unique two-tower form to Space Needle architect John Graham, Jr. Minoru Yamasaki put a playfully modern spin on downtown skyscraper Rainier Tower (1301 Fifth Ave), whose curved podium has mystified onlookers since 1977. Next door, Rainier Square (401 Union St; rainiersquare.com), a new development conceived by the firm NBBJ, has a sloping base to complement Rainier Tower’s geometry. Rainier Square is now Seattle’s second-tallest building at 58 stories.
Chihuly Garden and Glass Scott Mitchell Leen, courtesy Chihuly Garden and Glass
A LIVING LANDMARK
Recent construction and adaptive reuse have helped Seattle Center grow with the city while maintaining its unique look.
In 2012, Chihuly Garden and Glass (*305 Harrison St; chihulygardenandglass.com), a permanent exhibition for renowned Northwest glassblower Dale Chihuly, opened at the site of a former amusement park, combining a conservatory aesthetic with colorful glasswork.
A multiuse building found a new life as an engaging residence for beloved indie radio station KEXP (90.3) (*472 First Ave N; kexp.org) in 2018, complete with a record store and live performance space. The Seattle Center Century 21 Master Plan continues to update Seattle Center. In addition to the rebranding and reconstruction of Climate Pledge Arena (334 First Ave N; climatepledgearena.com), the campus will feature art installations, a skatepark, and the upgrade of the Dupen Fountain wading pool on the north side of Climate Pledge Arena. The parking garage is getting accessibility updates, and the Armory food and event hall façade next to the monorail terminal is being restored to its original art deco style.
BACK TO TOP
STAR-CHITECTURE
Don’t leave Seattle without visiting these buildings by world-famous architects.
MoPOP 365 Focus Photography/Shutterstock
KING STREET STATION (1906)
The architects: Charles Reed and Allen Stem, known for New York’s Grand Central Station
The building: This train station features a 250-foot clock tower modeled after the bell tower of Venice, on Italy’s Piazza San Marco. A renovation completed in 2014 uncovered ornate ceilings, wainscoting, and mosaic tilework hidden after an unfortunate redesign in the 1960s. 303 S Jackson St; seattle.gov
THE SKINNER BUILDING (1926)
The architect: Robert Reamer, known for the hotels in Yellowstone National Park and art deco buildings in Seattle
The building: Harry C. Arthur and Pacific Theatres, the largest theater operator on the West Coast when this building was constructed, commissioned Reamer to create The 5th Avenue Theatre—a grand performance space with a Chinese theme, lined with reliefs of dragons and flowers inside. *1308 Fifth Ave; 5thavenue.org
SEATTLE CENTRAL LIBRARY (2004)
The architect: Rem Koolhaas, known for glassy, modern buildings that play with perspective
The building: The downtown library is a collage of window-lined cathedral ceilings, open workspaces, hidden nooks, and creative corridors—including the book spiral, which stacks more than three stories of nonfiction books along a shallow, winding ramp. *1000 Fourth Ave; spl.org
MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE (2000)
formerly Experience Music Project
The architect: Frank Gehry, known for madcap shapes with deep internal logic, including Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
The building: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen led this development, driven by his super-fandom of Seattle-born guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Gehry immersed himself in Hendrix’s music and used cut-up electric guitars as an inspiration for his design. *325 Fifth Ave N; mopop.org
The Arctic Club courtesy image
Seaboard Building courtesy image
Interurban Building courtesy image
Some of Seattle’s oldest buildings are adorned with elaborate terra-cotta ornamentation. Take a closer look when you pass by these historic downtown buildings.
1892 | INTERURBAN BUILDING
A lion’s head over the front door welcomes you. 102 Occidental Ave S
1910 | SEABOARD BUILDING
Flatiron-style building with ornate dividing lines. 1500 Fourth Ave
1916 | ARCTIC CLUB BUILDING
Watch for walruses at this extravagant hotel. H700 Third Ave; arcticclubhotel.com
1916 | COLISEUM THEATER
This early theater is now a retail space. 1512 Fifth Ave
1925 | EAGLES AUDITORIUM BUILDING
Intricate Renaissance-style decoration graces every window and doorway of what now houses ACT Theatre. *700 Union St; acttheatre.org
1933 | OLD FEDERAL BUILDING
Spot lions and rams overhead. 909 First Ave
The Spheres Mariana Ianovska/Shutterstock
NEW CLASSICS
The National Nordic Museum’s monolithic new home opened in Ballard in 2018; architecture firm Mithun modeled the central hall after a fjord, branching off into exhibition areas. *2655 NW Market St; nordicmuseum.org
For the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture’s new University District facility, finished in 2019, Olson Kundig installed glass walls to offer a peek at the restoration, cleaning, and research work that happens behind the scenes. *1413 NE 45th St; burkemuseum.org
40,000 plants thrive in The Spheres, Amazon’s hybrid conservatory and workspace designed by NBBJ in 2018. 2111 Seventh Ave; seattlespheres.com
Pike Place MarketFront Marianna Ianovska/Shutterstock
FRESH LOOKS
A Seattle fixture since 1907, Pike Place Market added a multistory pavilion, jaw-dropping waterfront views, and more space for farmers, artists, and other producers in the MarketFront expansion of 2017. *85 Pike St; pikeplacemarket.org
The Smith Tower was Seattle’s tallest building when it went up in 1911, and a ride in a historic elevator leads to a 35th-floor observatory. A 2016 remodel upgraded the experience, restoring some original ornamentation and adding a speakeasy-style bar with views of the city and Puget Sound. *506 Second Ave; smithtower.com
The Seattle Asian Art Museum’s historic 1933 home in Volunteer Park reopened in 2021 after its first-ever major renovation, featuring a more open layout, additional gallery space, and a deep cleaning of its art deco details. *1400 E Prospect St; seattleartmuseum.org
The 76-story Columbia Center became Seattle’s tallest building in 1985, a distinction it still holds today. Visibility from its 73rd-floor Sky View Observatory and cafe widened from 270 to 360 degrees following a 2018 remodel, and the enhancements have continued with the recent installation of floor-to-ceiling windows. *700 Fourth Ave; skyviewobservatory.com
SEATTLE ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
Book a wide variety of tours under themes like art deco, public/private spaces, and postmodernism. *1010 Western Ave; seattlearchitecture.org
CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
At this public space near Seattle’s waterfront, find exhibitions and programming, or learn about tours and other educational events. 1010 Western Ave; cfadseattle.org
SEATTLE DESIGN FESTIVAL
This annual event, typically occurring in mid- to late summer, celebrates all things design, especially in the built environment—that is, the world humans have created around themselves. designinpublic.org
2021 Seattle Design Festival Trevor Dystra
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SEATTLE LOCALIST
Seattle’s best every month in your inbox
Book Your Trip
Partner Advertisements