Columbia Center

Columbia Center
Seen from Smith Tower in August 2007
Location within downtown Seattle
Former namesBank of America Tower
Columbia Seafirst Center
Record height
Tallest in Seattle and Washington state since 1985[I]
Preceded bySafeco Plaza
General information
TypeCommercial offices
Location701 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates47°36′16″N 122°19′50″W / 47.60453°N 122.33069°W / 47.60453; -122.33069
Construction started1982
CompletedJanuary 12, 1985
OpenedMarch 2, 1985
CostUS$200 million (approx. $585 million in 2024 dollars)
OwnerGaw Capital Partners
Height
Architectural933 ft (284 m)
Tip967 ft (295 m)
Roof937 ft (286 m)
Observatory902 ft (275 m)
Technical details
Floor count76
(76 & 7 below ground)
Floor area1,538,000 sq ft (142,900 m2)
Lifts/elevators48
Design and construction
Architect(s)Chester Lindsey Architects
DeveloperMartin Selig
Structural engineerMagnusson Klemencic Associates (formerly Skilling Helle Christiansen Robertson)
Main contractorHoward S. Wright Construction
Website
columbiacenterseattle.com
References

The Columbia Center or Columbia Tower, formerly named the Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The 76-story structure is the tallest building in the state of Washington, reaching a height of 933 ft (284 m). At the time of its completion in 1985, the Columbia Center was the tallest structure on the West Coast; as of 2017, it is the fourth-tallest, behind buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The Columbia Center, developed by Martin Selig and designed by Chester L. Lindsey Architects, began construction in 1982 and was completed in 1985. The building is primarily leased for class-A office spaces by various companies, with the lower floors including retail space and the upper floors featuring a public observatory and private club lounge. The tower has the highest public viewing area west of the Mississippi River. It occupies most of the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets.