Pacific Tower (Seattle) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pacific Tower |
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Pacific Tower in 2012
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| Alternative names | Pacific Medical Center Pacific Hospital Preservation and Development Authority US Marine Hospital PacMed Building |
| General information | |
| Type | Health facility Former hospital Former corporate headquarters |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Location | 1200 12th Avenue South Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°35′34″N 122°18′57″W / 47.5928°N 122.3158°W |
| Elevation | 350 ft (110 m) |
| Height | 239 ft (73 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 16 |
| Floor area | 259,703 sq ft (24,127.2 m2) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002543 |
The Pacific Tower, also known as the Pacific Medical Center, is a tall, 16-story building in Seattle, Washington. It is located on Beacon Hill and stands at 1200 12th Avenue South. The building was finished in 1932 and opened in 1933. It first served as a hospital for the United States Public Health Service. Even today, the lower floors are still used as a medical center.
From 1999 to 2010, Amazon.com used much of the building as its main office. After Amazon moved to South Lake Union, many parts of the building became empty. In 2013, the State of Washington agreed to rent 13 floors for 30 years. Seattle Central College now uses six of these floors for its healthcare training programs.
The building was designed by Carl Frelinghuysen Gould in the Art Deco style. It sits on a hill, offering great views of downtown Seattle. The Pacific Tower is a well-known part of the city's skyline. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City of Seattle also recognizes it as a landmark. In the 1990s, the building was made stronger to withstand earthquakes. However, some parts were still damaged during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.
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History of the Pacific Tower
Early Hospital Use
The U.S. government opened the building in 1933. It was a U.S. Public Health Service Marine Hospital. This new hospital replaced an older one in Port Townsend. When it first opened, it had 312 beds for patients. The hospital cared for veterans, merchant sailors, and members of the U.S. Coast Guard. It also helped people from the U.S. Lighthouse Service. Poor people who qualified for federal help could also receive care there.
In 1951, all Marine Hospitals, including this one, were renamed Public Health Service Hospitals. Two years later, a new three-story section was added. This part was built on the east side of the building. It was used for clinics where patients could visit without staying overnight.
In 1975, two stair towers were added to the south side of the building. The hospital was made even bigger in 1980. A new laboratory and primary care section were built then.
Becoming an Office Building
The federal government stopped running this hospital in 1981. The City of Seattle then took control of the building. The city created the Pacific Hospital Preservation and Development Authority (PHPDA). The PHPDA now owns the property. It rents out parts of the building to long-term tenants. The money from these leases helps the PHPDA. Their goal is to provide healthcare services. These services are for people in King County who have low incomes or no health insurance.
Between 1991 and 1994, the building was made stronger against earthquakes. This work cost $9.3 million, paid for by a county bond. A new tower was built on the north side. This tower helped support the original building. The addition was designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca architects. It won an award for its smart design. The new part blended well with the old building's look. This project added 70,000 sq ft (6,500 m2) of new space. However, this space was empty at first.
The medical organization faced money problems. For several years, they tried to rent out at least 155,000 sq ft (14,400 m2) of the building. But they were not successful. In 1998, Amazon.com signed a deal to rent space. They paid $1.5 million a year until 2010. The medical facilities continued to use the first two floors.
The building was badly damaged during the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. The upper floors twisted like a corkscrew. About 80 percent of the outer walls on the top three floors were damaged. A brick decoration on the roof fell through the 10th floor. An elevator shaft and five floors were flooded when a water pipe broke. Luckily, no one was hurt. Repairs were estimated to cost $6 million. During the repairs, workers tried to reuse the original bricks and terracotta. When new materials were needed, they matched the old colors and style.
Amazon continued to use their floors while the building was being fixed. In 2003, the medical group officially became a separate healthcare organization. It is now called PacMed Clinics, or Pacific Medical Centers (PMC). The Pacific Medical Center Clinic still operates on the first two floors of the building. In 2010, Amazon.com ended its lease. They moved their main office to a new campus in the South Lake Union area. Many parts of the Pacific Tower became empty after Amazon left. Its location, outside of downtown Seattle, made it hard to find new businesses to rent the space.
Washington State House Speaker Frank Chopp led a plan to use government money. The idea was to move community college health programs into the building. In August 2013, the PHPDA announced a 30-year lease. This agreement was with the Washington State Department of Commerce for 13 stories of Pacific Tower. Six of these stories are now rented to Seattle Colleges. They use the space for their healthcare training programs. Many nonprofit groups are also located in the building. These include Neighborcare Health and 501 Commons. Chopp and other state lawmakers also moved some of their offices there. The state set aside $20 million for renovations. However, the cost grew to $54.3 million by 2016. This was due to unexpected water damage and new city energy rules.
Future Housing Plans
In October 2022, construction started on a new part of the Pacific Tower. This addition will be seven stories tall. It is planned to have 270 units of affordable housing. The project includes two new buildings on the north side of the tower. It will also have an early childhood education center. This center will be run by El Centro de la Raza. There will also be offices for a nonprofit group. The Pacific Hospital Preservation & Development Authority manages this project. It is funded by loans and grants from local governments and private donors, including Amazon. The new housing is expected to open in two stages. The first stage is planned for 2024.
Building Design
The original building was designed by the architectural firm Bebb and Gould. The John Graham Company also helped with the design. Carl Frelinghuysen Gould designed it in the Art Deco style. The tower is 239 ft (73 m) tall. It is located 350 ft (110 m) above sea level. From its spot on the northern edge of Beacon Hill, it looks out over downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. The building has 259,703 sq ft (24,127.2 m2) of space. It sits on a 9.5 acres (3.8 ha) landscaped property.
The Pacific Tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1992, the city gave it landmark status. The northern addition, finished in 1994, was praised by the American Institute of Architects. It was noted that the new space blended almost perfectly with the old building. It also made the building much stronger against earthquakes. In 2017, artist Ari Glass was asked to create art for the Pacific Tower. Some of his new artworks are now a permanent part of the North Entrance.
The main building and its surrounding area have well-kept grounds. There are six other buildings near the main tower. These were once homes for officers. Now, they are used for laboratories and offices. These buildings match the style of the main tower. They have outer walls with decorative terracotta details and brick patterns. Other additions include a parking garage and smaller metal buildings. A detailed wrought iron fence surrounds the property.
