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List of tallest buildings in Seattle facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Downtown Seattle skyline from Kerry Park - October 2019
Skyline of Seattle from Kerry Park on Queen Anne Hill, 2019
Downtown Seattle skyline and Colman Dock from water taxi (19035868880)
Skyline of Downtown Seattle from Colman Dock on Elliott Bay, 2015

Seattle, Washington, the most populous city in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, has 117 completed high-rise buildings over 240 feet (73 m), of which 43 are over 400 feet (120 m) tall. An additional 65 high-rise buildings are under construction or undergoing planning and design review, as of 2016.

The tallest building in Seattle is the 76-story Columbia Center, which rises 937 feet (286 m) and was completed in 1985. It is currently the 29th-tallest building in the United States, and the tallest building in the state of Washington. The second-tallest skyscraper in the city and the state is 1201 Third Avenue, which rises 772 feet (235 m) and was completed in 1988. The 20 tallest buildings in Washington are all located in Seattle.

In terms of the number of skyscrapers over 493 feet (150 m), Seattle's skyline is ranked first in the Northwestern United States, third on the West Coast (after Los Angeles and San Francisco) and seventh in North America.

History

See also: Architecture of Seattle

After the Great Seattle Fire of June 6, 1889, Seattle began reconstruction of the city's central business district under a new building code requiring the use of fireproof materials, such as stone and brick. By the end of 1890, 465 buildings had been built, completing the initial phase of reconstruction, and city boosters looked to build modern high-rise buildings after the infusion of new money from the Klondike gold rush later that decade. The Pioneer Building, whose observation tower surpassed 110 feet (34 m), was completed in 1892 and is regarded as the city's first modern high-rise building. The Alaska Building, completed in 1904 and rising 203 feet (62 m) above 2nd Avenue in Pioneer Square, is considered to be Seattle's first skyscraper and first steel-framed high-rise building. It held the title of tallest habitable building in the city until the completion of the 205-foot (62 m), 18-story Hoge Building in 1911. Both buildings had been surpassed in height by the clocktower of King Street Station, opened in 1906, which stands 245 feet (75 m) tall.

Seattle's continued growth at the turn of the century, bolstered by the hosting of the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition in 1909 and the opening of the Metropolitan Tract to development, led to a building boom north of Yesler Way in the modern-day downtown. On July 4, 1914, firearm and typewriter magnate Lyman Cornelius Smith opened the 484-foot-tall (148 m) Smith Tower, the city's new tallest building. For several years, the 38-story tower would hold the title of tallest west of the Mississippi River, and dominate the Seattle skyline. By the end of the 1920s building boom, several new Art Deco high-rises above 200 feet (61 m) were completed in Seattle, including the Medical Dental Building (1925), Seattle Tower (1930), Roosevelt Hotel (1929), Washington Athletic Club (1930), Textile Tower Building (1930), Harborview Medical Center (1931), and Pacific Tower (1933).

New high-rise construction in Seattle was halted during the Great Depression and World War II, and slowed during the post-war economic boom in the 1950s, as suburbanization took hold in the region. The first new building in downtown to be built after the war was the Norton Building in 1959, a 19-story office building in the International Style with a glass curtain wall and simple exterior features, a departure from the previous Neo-Gothic and Art Deco styles used in high-rises. By 1959, office space occupying downtown buildings had overtaken retail uses, with over 4,987,000 square feet (463,300 m2). Seattle was selected to host the World's Fair in 1962, revitalizing the downtown area and bringing the construction of the fairgrounds' centerpiece, the Space Needle. The 605-foot (184 m) observation tower became the symbol of the fair and a landmark for Seattle, and was the first new structure to surpass the Smith Tower in height.

Seafirst Building, 1969
An aerial view of Downtown Seattle looking north in 1969, after the completion of the 50-story Seafirst Building

The 50-story Seafirst Building (now Safeco Plaza) became the city's tallest when it opened in 1969, standing 630 feet (190 m), and signaled the start of a major construction boom in Downtown Seattle. The boom would last well into the 1980s, despite an economic downturn caused by the Boeing bust and 1970s energy crisis, and introduce elements of Modernist and Postmodern architecture to high-rise construction in the city. During this period, 15 skyscrapers taller than 400 feet (122 m) in height were constructed in Seattle, including 901 Fifth Avenue (1973), the First Interstate Center (1973), the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building (1974), 1600 Seventh Avenue (1976), Rainier Tower (1977), 1111 Third Avenue (1980), 800 Fifth Avenue (1981), Union Square (1981 and 1989), and the Westin Building. In total, more than 14 million square feet (1,300,000 m2) of office space was added by new construction in the 1980s. In 1984, the 76-story, 943-foot (287 m) Columbia Center was completed, becoming the tallest building in Seattle and on the West Coast of the United States. During the 1980s, the suburb of Bellevue emerged as an urban center, boasting a skyline of its own that would continue to grow well into the 21st century.

Seattle skyline, circa 1986 (28153817145)
The Downtown Seattle skyline in 1986, viewed from Elliott Bay

The boom of the 1980s was capped by the Columbia Center and other downtown towers such as 1000 Second Avenue (1987), 1201 Third Avenue (1988), the U.S. Bank Centre (1989) and the Gateway Tower (1990), with new downtown office space in the decade surpassing what had been built over the previous 100 years in Seattle. The new wave of development sparked fears of "Manhattanization" in downtown that would push out lower-income residents and reduce quality of life. A downtown land use plan adopted in 1984 and shelved until 1986 required the addition of public benefits for major construction projects. Opposition to the new downtown plan, which would allow "generous" new construction unhindered by a height limit, led to the creation of the "Citizen's Alternative Plan", which would limit buildings to 450 feet (140 m) and restrict development to an annual limit of 1 million square feet (93,000 m2) of space per year. The plan was approved by voters as a ballot initiative on May 16, 1989, replacing the land use plan and introduced the city's modern design review process for new development.

Development of new high-rises slowed down across U.S. cities during the early 1990s recession as demand caught up to an over-built market, with Seattle's 1980s office buildings suffering from a lack of tenants that forced ownership changes or the threat of bankruptcy and foreclosure. By 1992, vacancy rates for office space in Downtown Seattle reached 14.7 percent, while vacancy rates in outlying suburbs remained much lower. The dot-com bubble of the late 1990s, including a local economy boosted by Boeing and Microsoft, led a cut of the vacancy rate to 6 percent by 1997; between 1997 and 1999, new office buildings created an average of 1.5 million square feet (140,000 m2) of additional office space per year. After the burst of the dot-com bubble and the early 2000s recession, downtown office vacancies shot up from 1 percent to 13 percent by the end of 2001.

Two major downtown projects, the IDX Tower (2003) and WaMu Center (2006), were completed during the early 2000s and were the first office buildings to be built since the Key Tower in 1990. By the mid-2000s, office vacancies in Downtown Seattle improved to below 10 percent, but office developers were hesitant to break ground on new projects. A new downtown zoning plan adopted in 2006 effectively repealed the 1989 Citizens' Alternative Plan and its modified 540-foot (160 m) height limit, favoring unlimited heights in downtown and 400-foot (120 m) residential towers on the periphery of downtown. The new zoning plan set off a wave of high-rise residential development in the late 2000s, including the completion of Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue (2008), Escala (2009), and Olive 8 (2009), coming at the peak of the United States housing bubble and the demand for downtown luxury condominiums before the Great Recession.

During the Great Recession, downtown office vacancies rose to a record 21 percent by the beginning of 2010, but dropped to 10 percent by 2013; the downturn was partially blamed on the collapse of Washington Mutual, which employed 3,500 in its downtown offices. The surge in demand for office space revived several proposed downtown high-rise office projects, including The Mark and Madison Centre, both exceeding 500 feet (150 m) in height and planned to open in 2017. Other planned office and mixed-use buildings in Downtown Seattle include 2&U, the stalled Civic Square project, and the Rainier Square Tower, proposed to be the city's second-tallest building at 850 feet (260 m). Since 2010, developers have also proposed high-rise residential buildings in Downtown Seattle, including a supertall 101-story tower named 4/C, which would become the city's tallest building at 1,029 feet (314 m), and the 880-foot (270 m) 888 Tower.

Recent high-rise development in Seattle has been concentrated in the Denny Triangle and South Lake Union areas to the north of Downtown Seattle, both rezoned to support development in the 2000s after decades of supporting industrial and low-rise commercial establishments. Office development came first to the Denny Triangle area in the mid-2000s, with the construction of the United States Courthouse (2004) and 1918 Eighth Avenue (2009). In 2012, Amazon.com announced their intention to relocate their South Lake Union headquarters to a complex of high-rises in Denny Triangle; the first towers, the 520-foot (160 m) Doppler and Day 1, opened in 2016, and at least three more towers are in development. The Denny Triangle also hosts the region's largest hotel, the 45-story Hyatt Regency Seattle near the Washington State Convention Center, which was completed in 2018.

Residential developments in the Denny Triangle area above 400 feet (120 m) include Aspira (2010), Premiere on Pine, Cirrus, Kinects, Stratus, McKenzie Apartments, and AMLI Arc. The Denny Way corridor in South Lake Union, upzoned in 2013 by the city council, is proposed to support at least seven high-rise residential buildings above 400 feet (120 m) in height, including Kiara and 1120 Denny Way. Other parts of downtown Seattle have also been host to recent high-rise residential development, including the twin Insignia Towers in Belltown, Tower 12, Helios, and West Edge Tower near Pike Place Market.

Tallest completed buildings

This list ranks Seattle skyscrapers that stand at least 400 feet (122 m) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed. Freestanding observation towers, while not habitable buildings, are included for comparison purposes; however, they are not ranked.

Rank Name Image Height
ft (m)		 Floors Use Year Coordinates Notes
1 Columbia Center Columbia center from smith tower.jpg 937 (286) 76 Office 1985 47°36′16.31″N 122°19′50.48″W / 47.6045306°N 122.3306889°W / 47.6045306; -122.3306889 (Columbia Center)
2 1201 Third Avenue Seattle Washington Mutual Tower 2004-08-30.jpg 772 (235) 55 Office 1988 47°36′25.92″N 122°20′09.96″W / 47.6072000°N 122.3361000°W / 47.6072000; -122.3361000 (1201 Third Avenue)
3 Two Union Square Two Union Square 2.jpg 740 (226) 56 Office 1989 47°36′37.38″N 122°19′55.33″W / 47.6103833°N 122.3320361°W / 47.6103833; -122.3320361 (Two Union Square)
4 Seattle Municipal Tower Seattle Municipal Tower.JPG 722 (220) 62 Office 1990 47°36′18.36″N 122°19′47.28″W / 47.6051000°N 122.3298000°W / 47.6051000; -122.3298000 (Seattle Municipal Tower)
5 F5 Tower F5 Tower - July 2017.jpg 660 (201) 43 Office/Hotel 2017 47°36′19.00″N 122°19′52.00″W / 47.6052778°N 122.3311111°W / 47.6052778; -122.3311111 (The Mark)
  • Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 2010s
6 Safeco Plaza 1001 Fourth Avenue Seattle Washington.jpg 630 (192) 50 Office 1969 47°36′21.96″N 122°20′02.76″W / 47.6061000°N 122.3341000°W / 47.6061000; -122.3341000 (Safeco Plaza)
  • Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1960s
  • Tallest building in Seattle from 1969 to 1985
  • Originally called the Seattle-First National Bank Building
7 U.S. Bank Centre City Centre Seattle Washington.jpg 606 (185) 44 Office 1989 47°36′38.16″N 122°20′04.20″W / 47.6106000°N 122.3345000°W / 47.6106000; -122.3345000 (U.S. Bank Centre)
— Space Needle VolunteerParkNeedle.jpg 605 (184) 5 Observation 1962 47°37′13.44″N 122°20′56.76″W / 47.6204000°N 122.3491000°W / 47.6204000; -122.3491000 (Space Needle)
  • Tallest observation tower in Washington
  • 4th tallest observation tower in the United States
8 Russell Investments Center WaMucenter.JPG 598 (182) 42 Office 2006 47°36′26.32″N 122°20′13.59″W / 47.6073111°N 122.3371083°W / 47.6073111; -122.3371083 (Russell Investments Center)
  • Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 2000s
9 DocuSign Tower Wells Fargo Center (Seattle).jpg 573 (175) 47 Office 1983 47°36′18.00″N 122°20′02.76″W / 47.6050000°N 122.3341000°W / 47.6050000; -122.3341000 (Wells Fargo Center)
  • Previously named First Interstate Center and Wells Fargo Center
10 800 Fifth Avenue Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza Building.jpg 543 (166) 42 Office 1981 47°36′20.88″N 122°19′48.72″W / 47.6058000°N 122.3302000°W / 47.6058000; -122.3302000 (Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza)
  • Formerly known as Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza from 1981 to 2014.
11 901 Fifth Avenue 901 Fifth Avenue (Seattle, Washington).jpg 536 (163) 41 Office 1973 47°36′20.99″N 122°19′55.20″W / 47.6058306°N 122.3320000°W / 47.6058306; -122.3320000 (901 Fifth Avenue)
  • Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1970s
12 Madison Centre Madison Centre.jpg 530 (162) 36 Office 2017 47°36′23.29″N 122°19′52.61″W / 47.6064694°N 122.3312806°W / 47.6064694; -122.3312806 (Madison Centre)
13 Doppler Amazon Tower I topped out, June 2015.jpg 524 (160) 37 Office 2015 47°36′54.52″N 122°20′18.88″W / 47.6151444°N 122.3385778°W / 47.6151444; -122.3385778 (Amazon Doppler)
  • Also known as Amazon Tower I
14 Day 1 Day 1 Tower Seattle WA Jan 17.jpg 521 (159) 37 Office 2016 47°36′57.13″N 122°20′23.46″W / 47.6158694°N 122.3398500°W / 47.6158694; -122.3398500 (Amazon Day 1)
  • Also known as Amazon Tower II
15 AmazonTowers1-3.jpg 520 (158) 37 Office 2019 47°36′59″N 122°20′20″W / 47.61639°N 122.33889°W / 47.61639; -122.33889 (Amazon re:Invent)
  • Also known as Amazon Tower III
16 Rainier Tower Rainier Tower Seattle Washington.jpg 514 (157) 31 Office 1977 47°36′32.47″N 122°20′02.58″W / 47.6090194°N 122.3340500°W / 47.6090194; -122.3340500 (Rainier Tower)
17 Fourth and Madison Building Fourth and Madison building.jpg 512 (156) 40 Office 2002 47°36′19.79″N 122°19′58.91″W / 47.6054972°N 122.3330306°W / 47.6054972; -122.3330306 (Fourth and Madison Building)
18 1918 Eighth Avenue 1918 Eighth Avenue (Seattle, Washington).jpg 500 (152) 36 Office 2009 47°36′56.52″N 122°20′09.96″W / 47.6157000°N 122.3361000°W / 47.6157000; -122.3361000 (1918 Eighth Avenue)
Hyatt Regency Seattle Hyatt Regency Seattle from Olive & Terry, July 2018.jpg 500 (152) 45 Hotel 2018 47°36′54.00″N 122°20′04.92″W / 47.6150000°N 122.3347000°W / 47.6150000; -122.3347000 (Hyatt Regency Seattle)
  • Tallest all-hotel building
  • Largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest
20 1600 Seventh Avenue 1600 Seventh Avenue (Seattle) from Plymouth Pillars Park.jpg 498 (152) 33 Office 1976 47°36′47.52″N 122°20′03.84″W / 47.6132000°N 122.3344000°W / 47.6132000; -122.3344000 (1600 Seventh Avenue)
21 1000 Second Avenue 1000 Second Avenue, Seattle from 2nd & Marion.jpg 493 (150) 43 Office 1987 47°36′16.92″N 122°20′07.80″W / 47.6047000°N 122.3355000°W / 47.6047000; -122.3355000 (1000 Second Avenue)
22 Henry M. Jackson Federal Building Seattle - Jackson Federal Building 02.jpg 487 (148) 37 Office 1974 47°36′15.84″N 122°20′07.44″W / 47.6044000°N 122.3354000°W / 47.6044000; -122.3354000 (Henry M. Jackson Federal Building)
23 Smith Tower SmithTower Seattle WA USA2.jpg 462 (141) 42 Office, Residential 1914 47°36′07.53″N 122°19′54.49″W / 47.6020917°N 122.3318028°W / 47.6020917; -122.3318028 (Smith Tower)
  • Tallest building constructed in Seattle in the 1910s
  • Tallest building in Seattle from 1914 to 1969
24 One Union Square One Union Square.jpg 456 (139) 36 Office 1981 47°36′34.89″N 122°19′55.52″W / 47.6096917°N 122.3320889°W / 47.6096917; -122.3320889 (One Union Square)
25 Olive 8 Seattle Olive-8 01.jpg 455 (139) 39 Hotel, Residential 2009 47°36′48.96″N 122°20′02.76″W / 47.6136000°N 122.3341000°W / 47.6136000; -122.3341000 (Olive 8)
26 1111 Third Avenue 1111 Third Avenue, Seattle, from the west.jpg 454 (138) 34 Office 1980 47°36′24.00″N 122°20′06.00″W / 47.6066667°N 122.3350000°W / 47.6066667; -122.3350000 (1111 Third Avenue)
27 Westin Seattle North Tower Westin Seattle from Olive 8.jpg 449 (137) 47 Hotel 1982 47°36′49.50″N 122°20′19.52″W / 47.6137500°N 122.3387556°W / 47.6137500; -122.3387556 (Westin Seattle North Tower)
28 McKenzie Apartments McKenzie Apartments from Amazon Day One, April 2018.jpg 446 (136) 39 Residential 2018 47°37′03.68″N 122°20′21.50″W / 47.6176889°N 122.3393056°W / 47.6176889; -122.3393056 (McKenzie Apartments)
29 Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue (Seattle).jpg 440 (134) 38 Residential 2008 47°36′33.48″N 122°20′22.20″W / 47.6093000°N 122.3395000°W / 47.6093000; -122.3395000 (Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue)
Premiere on Pine Premiere on Pine from Olive 8.jpg 440 (134) 42 Residential 2014 47°36′47.53″N 122°19′55.91″W / 47.6132028°N 122.3321972°W / 47.6132028; -122.3321972 (Premiere on Pine)
Cirrus Cirrus from 7th & Blanchard (23257327589).jpg 440 (134) 41 Residential 2015 47°36′59.46″N 122°20′14.64″W / 47.6165167°N 122.3374000°W / 47.6165167; -122.3374000 (Cirrus (Seattle))
Insignia South Tower Insignia Towers, Seattle.jpg 440 (134) 41 Residential 2015 47°36′59.50″N 122°20′35.53″W / 47.6165278°N 122.3432028°W / 47.6165278; -122.3432028 (Insignia South Tower)
Insignia North Tower 440 (134) 41 Residential 2016 47°37′01.29″N 122°20′37.36″W / 47.6170250°N 122.3437111°W / 47.6170250; -122.3437111 (Insignia North Tower)
Kinects Kinects tower from Stratus.jpg 440 (134) 40 Residential 2017 47°37′01.39″N 122°19′53.44″W / 47.6170528°N 122.3315111°W / 47.6170528; -122.3315111 (Kinects Tower)
Helios Helios (2nd & Pine) from Columbia Center.jpg 440 (134) 40 Residential 2017 47°36′38.38″N 122°20′22.95″W / 47.6106611°N 122.3397083°W / 47.6106611; -122.3397083 (Second & Pine Tower)
AMLI Arc AMLI Arc from Municipal Tower, Feb. 2018.jpg 440 (134) 36 Office, Residential 2017 47°36′59.55″N 122°19′53.28″W / 47.6165417°N 122.3314667°W / 47.6165417; -122.3314667 (AMLI Arc)
Stratus Stratus from Lenora Street, April 2018.jpg 440 (134) 41 Retail, Residential 2018 47°37′01.55″N 122°20′15.22″W / 47.6170972°N 122.3375611°W / 47.6170972; -122.3375611 (Stratus)
Arrivé Arrivé under construction, May 2018.jpg 440 (134) 41 Hotel, Residential 2019 47°36′51.91″N 122°20′30.24″W / 47.6144194°N 122.3417333°W / 47.6144194; -122.3417333 (2116 4th Avenue)
Nexus Nexus Seattle under construction, May 2019.jpg 440 (134) 40 Residential 2020 47°37′01.90″N 122°19′50.10″W / 47.6171944°N 122.3305833°W / 47.6171944; -122.3305833 (Nexus)
40 West Edge Tower 2nd & Pike under construction, October 2017.jpg 435 (133) 35 Retail/Residential 2018 47°36′32.82″N 122°20′18.04″W / 47.6091167°N 122.3383444°W / 47.6091167; -122.3383444 (West Edge)
Kiara 970 Denny construction, Sept. 2017 (37127995220).jpg 435 (133) 40 Residential 2018 47°37′08.85″N 122°20′15.38″W / 47.6191250°N 122.3376056°W / 47.6191250; -122.3376056 (Kiara)
42 Westin Building Westin Building from Lenora Street.jpg 409 (125) 34 Office 1981 47°36′51.48″N 122°20′18.60″W / 47.6143000°N 122.3385000°W / 47.6143000; -122.3385000 (Westin Building)
43 Aspira Aspira from Virginia & Boren, Seattle (23516661022).jpg 400 (122) 37 Residential 2009 47°36′57.77″N 122°20′00.50″W / 47.6160472°N 122.3334722°W / 47.6160472; -122.3334722 (Aspira (Seattle))

Tallest under construction, approved and proposed

Under construction

This lists skyscrapers that are under construction in Seattle that are expected to rise over 400 feet (122 m), but are not yet completed structures.

Name Height
ft (m)		 Floors Use Began
construction		 Year of completion
(est.)		 Coordinates Notes
Rainier Square Tower 850 (259) 58 Hotel, Office, Residential 2017 2020 47°36′33.12″N 122°20′05.89″W / 47.6092000°N 122.3349694°W / 47.6092000; -122.3349694 (Rainier Square Tower)
  • Developed by Wright Runstad
Qualtrics Tower 527 (161) 38 Office 2017 2020 47°36′24.50″N 122°20′13.63″W / 47.6068056°N 122.3371194°W / 47.6068056; -122.3371194 (2&U)
  • Developed by Skanska USA
  • Topped out in November 2018
1200 Stewart Street Tower I 484 (148) 48 Residential 2018 2022 47°37′05.80″N 122°19′54.16″W / 47.6182778°N 122.3317111°W / 47.6182778; -122.3317111 (1200 Stewart Street Tower I)
  • Developed by Westbank Projects
1200 Stewart Street Tower II 484 (148) 48 Residential 2018 2022 47°37′05.76″N 122°19′56.53″W / 47.6182667°N 122.3323694°W / 47.6182667; -122.3323694 (1200 Stewart Street Tower II)
  • Developed by Westbank Projects
2019 Boren Avenue 484 (148) 44 Residential 2019 2022 47°36′36″N 122°20′21″W / 47.61000°N 122.33917°W / 47.61000; -122.33917 (2019 Boren Avenue)
  • Developed by Holland Partner Group
1000 Virginia Street 484 (148) 45 Residential 2020 2023 47°37′02″N 122°20′06″W / 47.61722°N 122.33500°W / 47.61722; -122.33500 (1000 Virginia Street)
  • Developed by Holland Partner Group.
First Light 484 (148) 49 Residential 2020 2023 47°36′46.15″N 122°20′27.65″W / 47.6128194°N 122.3410139°W / 47.6128194; -122.3410139 (First Light)
  • Developed by Westbank Projects
2301 7th Avenue North Tower 476 (145) 42 Residential 2019 2022 47°37′03.2″N 122°20′32.2″W / 47.617556°N 122.342278°W / 47.617556; -122.342278 (2301 7th Avenue)
  • Proposed by Clise Properties on Antioch University campus
  • Clise Properties sold the site to Onni Group.
2301 7th Avenue South Tower 476 (145) 42 Residential 2019 2022 47°37′03.2″N 122°20′32.2″W / 47.617556°N 122.342278°W / 47.617556; -122.342278 (2301 7th Avenue)
  • Proposed by Clise Properties on Antioch University campus
  • Clise Properties sold the site to Onni Group.
Third and Lenora 440 (134) 38 Office, Residential 2017 2020 47°36′46.1″N 122°20′31.6″W / 47.612806°N 122.342111°W / 47.612806; -122.342111 (2031 Third Avenue)
  • Developed by Martin Selig Real Estate
Denny Centre 440 (134) 42 Residential 2018 2021 47°37′05″N 122°20′02″W / 47.61806°N 122.33389°W / 47.61806; -122.33389 (Denny Centre)
  • Developed by Bosa Properties
Seattle House Tower 1 440 (134) 41 Residential 2019 2022 47°37′01.8″N 122°20′31.6″W / 47.617167°N 122.342111°W / 47.617167; -122.342111 (Seattle House Tower 1)
  • Developed by HB Management and Concord Pacific
Seattle House Tower 2 440 (134) 41 Residential 2019 2022 47°37′01.8″N 122°20′31.6″W / 47.617167°N 122.342111°W / 47.617167; -122.342111 (Seattle House Tower 2)
  • Developed by HB Management and Concord Pacific
The Emerald 435 (133) 40 Residential 2017 2020 47°36′37.57″N 122°20′25.75″W / 47.6104361°N 122.3404861°W / 47.6104361; -122.3404861 (1613 Second Avenue)
  • Developed by Create World America
Spire 435 (133) 41 Residential 2018 2020 47°37′06.12″N 122°20′40.35″W / 47.6183667°N 122.3445417°W / 47.6183667; -122.3445417 (Spire)
  • Developed by Laconia Development and Vanke
1120 Denny Way North Tower 425 (130) 41 Residential 2017 2020 47°37′7.1″N 122°20′7.2″W / 47.618639°N 122.335333°W / 47.618639; -122.335333 (1220 Denny Way)
  • Developed by Onni Group
1120 Denny Way South Tower 415 (126) 41 Residential 2017 2020 47°37′7.1″N 122°20′7.2″W / 47.618639°N 122.335333°W / 47.618639; -122.335333 (1220 Denny Way)
  • Developed by Onni Group

Approved

This lists skyscrapers that are approved for construction by the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections that are expected to rise over 400 feet (122 m), but have not started excavation.

Name Height
ft (m)		 Floors Use Year *
(est.)		 Coordinates Notes
8th & Pine 539 (164) 55 Residential/Hotel — 47°36′46.91″N 122°19′57.22″W / 47.6130306°N 122.3325611°W / 47.6130306; -122.3325611 (8th & Pine)
  • Proposed by Fana Group
  • Approved in February 2018
1916 Boren Avenue 484 (148) 44 Residential/Hotel — 47°37′02″N 122°19′59″W / 47.61722°N 122.33306°W / 47.61722; -122.33306 (1916 Boren Avenue)
  • Hotel and residential project by OneLin Investment
1901 Minor Ave I 440 (134) 39 Residential — 47°37′03.5″N 122°19′56.7″W / 47.617639°N 122.332417°W / 47.617639; -122.332417 (1901 Minor Ave)
  • Proposed by Crescent Heights
1901 Minor Ave II 440 (134) 39 Residential — 47°37′03.5″N 122°19′56.7″W / 47.617639°N 122.332417°W / 47.617639; -122.332417 (1901 Minor Ave)
  • Proposed by Crescent Heights

* Table entries without text indicate that information regarding one or more of building heights, floor counts, and dates of completion has not yet been released.

Proposed

This lists skyscrapers that are proposed for construction in Seattle that are expected to rise over 400 feet (122 m), but are not yet completed structures.

Name Height
ft (m)		 Floors Year*
(est.)		 Coordinates Notes
4/C 1,029 (314) 93 — 47°36′14.00″N 122°19′53.00″W / 47.6038889°N 122.3313889°W / 47.6038889; -122.3313889 (4/C Tower)
  • Proposed by Crescent Heights
  • Would become the tallest building in Seattle
  • Downsized from 1,111 ft (339 m)
3rd & Cherry 629 (192) 58 — 47°36′12.24″N 122°19′52.32″W / 47.6034000°N 122.3312000°W / 47.6034000; -122.3312000 (Seattle Civic Square)
  • Proposed by Bosa
  • Originally Civic Square under another developer
800 Stewart St 605 (184) 54 — 47°36′54.9″N 122°20′07.1″W / 47.615250°N 122.335306°W / 47.615250; -122.335306 (800 Stewart St)
  • Proposed by Lincoln Property Co. West
Altitude Hotel and Residences 579 (176) 57 — 47°36′46.5″N 122°20′18.2″W / 47.612917°N 122.338389°W / 47.612917; -122.338389 (Altitude Sky Tower)
  • Proposed by Stanford Hotels
The Net 542 (165) 36 — 47°36′16″N 122°20′01″W / 47.60444°N 122.33361°W / 47.60444; -122.33361 (The Net)
  • Proposed by Urban Visions
  • Formerly planned to be 77 stories and later 60 stories
1933 5th Avenue 525 (160) 47 — 47°36′48.0″N 122°20′21.0″W / 47.613333°N 122.339167°W / 47.613333; -122.339167 (1933 5th Avenue)
  • Proposed by Douglaston Development
1516 2nd Avenue 499 (152) 45 — 47°36′48.0″N 122°20′21.0″W / 47.613333°N 122.339167°W / 47.613333; -122.339167 (1516 2nd Avenue)
  • Proposed by Plus Investments USA
1931 Second Avenue 484 (148) 44 — 47°36′41″N 122°20′30″W / 47.61139°N 122.34167°W / 47.61139; -122.34167 (1931 Second Avenue)
  • Hotel and condominium project proposed by Pacific Eagle Holdings
  • Current site of the Terminal Sales Annex Building
3+V 484 (148) 44 — 47°36′43″N 122°20′27″W / 47.61194°N 122.34083°W / 47.61194; -122.34083 (3+V)
  • Proposed by Martin Selig Real Estate
2025 5th Avenue 475 (145) 40 — 47°36′51″N 122°20′26″W / 47.61417°N 122.34056°W / 47.61417; -122.34056 (2025 5th Avenue)
  • Proposed by Vulcan Real Estate
2005 5th Avenue 475 (145) 50 — 47°36′49.2″N 122°20′22.3″W / 47.613667°N 122.339528°W / 47.613667; -122.339528 (2005 5th Avenue)
  • Proposed by Chainqui Development
8 Tower 440 (134) 41 2020 47°37′6.7″N 122°20′26.0″W / 47.618528°N 122.340556°W / 47.618528; -122.340556 (8 Tower)
  • Proposed by North American Asset Management Group
Onni Showbox 440 (134) 41 — 47°36′30.7″N 122°20′21.5″W / 47.608528°N 122.339306°W / 47.608528; -122.339306 (Onni Showbox)
  • Proposed by Onni Group on the site of The Showbox Theater
824 Howell 427 (130) 33 — 47°36′53.65″N 122°20′01.52″W / 47.6149028°N 122.3337556°W / 47.6149028; -122.3337556 (824 Howell)
  • Proposed by R. C. Hedreen Company
121 Boren Avenue North Tower I 400 (122) 42 — 47°37′08.4″N 122°20′11.3″W / 47.619000°N 122.336472°W / 47.619000; -122.336472 (121 Boren Avenue)
  • Proposed by H5 Capital
  • Proposed sale to Onni Group cancelled
121 Boren Avenue North Tower II 400 (122) 42 — 47°37′08.4″N 122°20′11.3″W / 47.619000°N 122.336472°W / 47.619000; -122.336472 (121 Boren Avenue)
  • Proposed by H5 Capital
  • Proposed sale to Onni Group cancelled
110 9th Avenue 400 (122) 41 — 47°37′09.0″N 122°20′21.9″W / 47.619167°N 122.339417°W / 47.619167; -122.339417 (110 9th Avenue)
  • Proposed by Vulcan Real Estate on the Denny Playfield
1800 Terry Avenue 400 (122) 35 — 47°37′57″N 122°19′56″W / 47.63250°N 122.33222°W / 47.63250; -122.33222 (1800 Terry Avenue)
  • Proposed by Seawest and Insignia

* Table entries without text indicate that information regarding one or more of building heights, floor counts, and dates of completion has not yet been released.

Timeline of tallest buildings

This lists buildings that once held the title of tallest building in Seattle. The Space Needle is not a building, and is thus not included in this list; the 605-foot (184 m) tower was the tallest structure in the city from 1961 to 1969.

Name Image Street address Years as tallest Height
ft (m)		 Floors Reference
Pioneer Building Seattle - Pioneer Building - 1900.jpg 612 1st Avenue 1892–1904 (12 years) 110 (34) 6
Alaska Building Seattle - Alaska Building 01.jpg 618 2nd Avenue 1904–1906 (2 years) 203 (62) 14
King Street Station Tower King Street Station from CenturyLink Field (18065470218).jpg 303 South Jackson Street 1906–1914 (8 years) 245 (75) 8
Smith Tower Seattle - Smith Tower 01.jpg 506 2nd Avenue 1914–1969 (55 years) 489 (149) 38
Safeco Plaza 1001 Fourth Avenue Seattle Washington.jpg 1001 4th Avenue 1969–1985 (16 years) 630 (192) 50
Columbia Center Columbia center from smith tower.jpg 701 5th Avenue 1985–present 937 (286) 76
C. The Space Needle is not a habitable building, but is included in this list for comparative purposes. Per a ruling by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, freestanding observation towers are not considered to be buildings, as they are not fully habitable structures.
D. The height of the Pioneer Building was reduced to 92 feet (28 m) after the 1949 Olympia earthquake.
General references

(including individual entries) (including individual entries) (including individual entries)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Edificios más altos de Seattle para niños

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