Columbia Center facts for kids
The Columbia Center is a very tall building in downtown Seattle, Washington. It used to be called the Bank of America Tower and before that, the Columbia Seafirst Center. This building is the tallest one in Seattle and in the entire state of Washington!
It stands at about 933 feet (284 meters) tall. When it was finished, the Columbia Center was the tallest building on the West Coast. Today, it's still one of the tallest, but a few buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco are now taller.
Quick facts for kids Columbia Center |
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Seen from Smith Tower in August 2007
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| Former names | Bank of America Tower Columbia Seafirst Center |
| Record height | |
| Tallest in Seattle and Washington state since 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Safeco Plaza |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location | 701 Fifth Avenue Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Coordinates | 47°36′16″N 122°19′50″W / 47.60453°N 122.33069°W |
| Construction started | 1982 |
| Completed | January 12, 1985 |
| Opened | March 2, 1985 |
| Cost | US$200 million (approx. $544 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Owner | Gaw Capital Partners |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 933 ft (284 m) |
| Tip | 967 ft (295 m) |
| Roof | 937 ft (286 m) |
| Observatory | 902 ft (275 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 76 (76 & 7 below ground) |
| Floor area | 1,538,000 sq ft (142,900 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 48 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Chester Lindsey Architects |
| Developer | Martin Selig |
| Structural engineer | Magnusson Klemencic Associates (formerly Skilling Helle Christiansen Robertson) |
| Main contractor | Howard S. Wright Construction |
Contents
What is the Columbia Center?
The Columbia Center is a huge skyscraper in the heart of Seattle. It's mainly used for offices, where many different businesses have their workplaces. Imagine a giant vertical city, and that's kind of what a skyscraper is!
How Tall is This Building?
This impressive building stands at about 933 feet (which is about 284 meters) to its highest point. That's taller than many other famous buildings! It has 76 floors above the ground and 7 floors below, making it a very complex structure.
What Can You See Inside?
The Columbia Center is mostly filled with offices. However, it also has a special observation deck on the 73rd floor. From here, you can get amazing views of Seattle, including the Space Needle, the city skyline, and even the mountains and water around it. It's a popular spot for visitors to see the city from high above!
A Bit of History
Construction on the Columbia Center began in 1982 and it was finished in 1985. It was designed by an architect named Chester Lindsey. When it first opened, it was a really big deal because it was the tallest building on the entire West Coast of the United States. It has been a landmark in Seattle ever since.
Images for kids
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Under construction in late 1983
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The Columbia Center (then Columbia Seafirst Center) under construction circa 1983.
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Columbia Center
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Columbia Center when it was called the Bank of America Tower
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Columbia Center from below
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The Space Needle from the observation deck
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Downtown Seattle from the observation deck
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Beneath Columbia Center
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Panorama from the observation deck
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Inside the observation deck
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Columbia Center seen from Rizal Park
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See also
In Spanish: Columbia Center para niños
