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1000 Second Avenue
1000 Second Avenue, Seattle from 2nd & Marion.jpg
Former names Seattle Trust Tower, Key Tower
General information
Status Complete
Type Office
Location 1000 2nd Avenue, Seattle, Washington
Coordinates 47°36′20.4″N 122°20′06.4″W / 47.605667°N 122.335111°W / 47.605667; -122.335111
Completed 1987
Owner Martin Selig Real Estate
Management Martin Selig Real Estate
Height
Roof 493 ft (150 m)
Technical details
Floor count 43
Floor area 448,075 sq ft (41,627.5 m2)
Design and construction
Architecture firm NBBJ
Developer Martin Selig Real Estate
Main contractor Howard S. Wright Construction

1000 Second Avenue is a very tall building in Seattle, Washington. It stands about 493 ft (150 m) high. This building was finished in 1987 and has 43 floors.

It was once called the Key Tower and the Seattle Trust Tower. These names came from the big companies that used to rent offices there. As of 2012, it was the 15th tallest building in Seattle.

Building History

How the Tower Began

In 1981, plans were made for a new 41-story office building. It was going to be built on 2nd Avenue in Seattle. The design was special, with a curved corner on one side. It also had outdoor areas that looked like stacked steps. The company NBBJ designed this unique building.

Later, in 1984, a real estate developer named Martin Selig bought the project. He planned for the building to be the main office for the Seattle Trust Bank.

Fire Safety Tests

Before building could start, something interesting happened. In November 1984, an old building on the site was used for fire safety tests. The Seattle Fire Department used it to learn more about fires in tall buildings.

They set up small fires inside the empty building. This helped them test new ways to keep smoke out of emergency exits. The information they gathered helped update fire safety rules for all tall buildings.

Name Changes and Moves

When the building opened in 1987, Seattle Trust Bank was bought by Key Bank. Because of this, the building's name changed to Key Tower.

However, Key Bank decided to move to a different building in 1989. After Key Bank left, the tower's name went back to 1000 Second Avenue. This was the name it had when it was first planned.

A Special Event

Since 2012, the building has hosted a fun yearly event. People rappel, or slide down ropes, from the building's top. This event helps raise money for the Washington Special Olympics program. It's a cool way to support athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Who Works Here?

Main Companies in the Building

Many different companies have offices at 1000 Second Avenue. One of the main groups that works here is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is a government agency that helps keep our country safe.

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