Seattle Convention Center Summit building Adam Hunter / LMN Architects

Meet at the Summit

Attending a meeting or an event at Seattle Convention Center’s original and brand-new buildings offers the chance to experience world-class art and architecture and state-of-the-art amenities.

By Corinne Whiting

The newest addition to the Seattle Convention Center, the sustainably designed Summit (900 Pine St) has been turning heads with its breathtaking contemporary design since it opened in early 2023. Whether your meeting or event is taking place here or at the original Arch (705 and 800 Pike St) building, just 1½ blocks away, you’ll be right in the heart of downtown, within walking distance of inviting hotels, acclaimed restaurants, and iconic attractions—including Pike Place Market (85 Pike St) and the Space Needle (400 Broad St)—as well as cultural touch points like ACT Theatre (700 Union St), Paramount Theatre (911 Pine St), and Town Hall (1119 Eighth Ave).

Seattle Convention Center Summit building Adam Hunter / LMN Architects

Summit is named for its dazzling, glass-enclosed wooden Hillclimb staircase, which climbs the length and height of the building and was designed as a place to sit, gather, and take in the sweeping view of downtown. The building stands out for its eco-friendly achievements, which include Salmon-Safe and anticipated LEED Gold certification. The spectacular design incorporates 3,900 suspended planks of reclaimed wood that was salvaged from the nearby Kitsap Peninsula, and natural light fills public spaces, thereby reducing energy use. Diversity was also a major focus in the Summit’s creation—$150 million was awarded to women- and minority-owned businesses throughout the project.

Several notable eateries are slated to open at Summit this year, including Pike Brewing Company, Piroshky Piroshky, Monorail Espresso, and Wild Rye bakery. They will join Ethan Stowell’s Bombo, a modern Italian kitchen showcasing traditional cuisine. The building’s robust art progam includes works by 23 commissioned artists, mostly from the Puget Sound region, with an emphasis on people of color and Indigenous residents, like Andrea Wilbur-Sigo (Squaxin Island and Skokomish), whose towering, wood-carved Mowitch Man and female counterpart, The Creator, warmly welcome all who gather here.

At the graceful Arch building, with its beautiful plant-filled atrium and a skybridge that soars over Pike Street and inspired the building’s name, you’re steps from attractive Freeway Park. Enjoy refreshments from local vendors like Juicy Cafe (725 Pike St), Daawat Indian Grill & Bar (820 Pike St), and Espresso Caffe Dior (800 Convention Pl). Or unwind with a Washington chardonnay or syrah at Audacity Wine Bar–Alexandria Nicole Cellars (806 Pike St).

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