Rainier Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rainier Tower |
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| Former names | Rainier Bank Tower (1977–89) Security Pacific Tower (1989–95) |
| Alternative names | Rainier Square |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Location | 1301 Fifth Avenue Seattle, Washington |
| Coordinates | 47°36′32″N 122°20′03″W / 47.60902°N 122.33405°W |
| Completed | 1977 |
| Owner | Unico Properties |
| Height | |
| Roof | 156.67 m (514.0 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 41 2 below ground |
| Floor area | 538,000 sq ft (50,000 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 13 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Minoru Yamasaki NBBJ |
| Structural engineer | Magnusson Klemencic Associates |
The Rainier Tower is a very tall building, known as a skyscraper, located in Seattle, Washington. It stands at 1301 Fifth Avenue and has 41 floors above ground. The building is about 157 meters (514 feet) tall. It was finished in 1977.
A famous architect named Minoru Yamasaki designed the Rainier Tower. He also designed the original World Trade Center in New York City. Another building he designed, the IBM Building, is right across the street from Rainier Tower.
Contents
What Makes Rainier Tower Unique?
Its Unusual Shape
The Rainier Tower looks very different from most skyscrapers. It sits on a special base that is 11 stories tall, about 37 meters (121 feet). This base gets narrower as it goes down to the ground. It looks like an upside-down pyramid.
Nicknames for the Tower
Because of its unique shape, locals have given the Rainier Tower some fun nicknames. Many people call it the "Beaver Building." This is because its base looks like a tree trunk that a beaver has chewed on, making it narrow at the bottom. Another nickname for the building is the "golf tee" building.
History of the Rainier Tower
Original Names and Owners
The tower and a shopping area beneath it were first named after Rainier Bank. This bank later joined with Security Pacific Bank in the 1980s. Because of this, the tower's name changed to Security Pacific Tower in 1989.
However, in 1995, the University of Washington (UW) decided to change the name back. They wanted to use the more familiar name, "Rainier Tower," again.
Rainier Square Shopping Area
Below the tower, there used to be an underground shopping mall called Rainier Square. This mall connected to another building called One Union Square. The University of Washington owned this shopping center. The Rainier Square mall was taken down in 2017.
New Developments Around Rainier Tower
In 2015, the University of Washington planned a big new project. They proposed building an even taller office tower, about 259 meters (850 feet) high, on the same block as the Rainier Tower. This new project also includes a 12-story hotel. Construction for these new buildings started in September 2017. They were expected to be finished in 2020.
See also
In Spanish: Rainier Tower para niños
