Discover the 10 Tallest Buildings in Seattle

Introduction

Located on Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the 15th most populous city in the entire United States. The city is home to 733,919 residents, making it a bustling metropolis with a vibrant culture. Aside from its size, Seattle is known as the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee, the home of the Seattle Seahawks, and much more. From within the city limits, beautiful landmarks such as Mount Rainier can be seen. All in all, Seattle is a fascinating city that is worth a visit. Just like any other big city, Seattle’s skyline is part of what makes it so iconic. Keep reading to discover the ten tallest buildings in Seattle!

1. – Columbia Center

Located in the downtown area of the city, the Columbia Center is the tallest building in Seattle. The center stands at an impressive 937 feet and has 76 floors of space. These floors include office space, retail outlets, restaurants, and much more. On the 73rd floor of the Columbia Center, visitors will find the tallest public viewing deck in the entire Pacific Northwest. The Sky View Observatory offers a 360-degree view of Seattle and the surrounding areas from 902 feet in the sky. Although the Columbia Center has been updated to meet modern needs, the building has been in operation since 1985. At the time it was completed, it was the tallest building on the West Coast. Today, the impressive structure ranks 41st out of the tallest buildings in the United States.

2. – Rainier Square Tower

Slightly north of downtown, the second tallest building in Seattle can be found. The Rainier Square Tower, built in 2021 stretches 850 feet into the sky over 58 floors. In addition to the 734,000 square feet of office space in the building, there are also 189 luxury apartment units. Both the residences and the offices offer stunning views of the greater Seattle area from the 64th tallest building in the United States. Because the building includes the newest, finest amenities, it took an estimated $600 million to construct!

3. – 1201 Third Avenue

Although the third tallest building in Seattle may not have an interesting name, the building is one of the most interesting on this list from an architectural standpoint. 1201 Third Avenue stands 772 feet above the streets of downtown Seattle and contains 56 floors. In addition to being so tall, the building blends classic and modern architectural styles, creating a fascinating-looking skyscraper that greatly adds to the city’s skyline. Since the building’s completion in 1988, it has been home mainly to office space. 1201 Third Avenue is the eighth-largest building on the West Coast and the 98th-largest building in the United States.

4. – Two Union Square

Completed in 1989, Two Union Square is currently the fourth tallest building in Seattle. Although the building stands at 740 feet, which is slightly shorter than 1201 Third Avenue, Two Union Square has one additional floor. The building is mainly used for office space, however, it has an underground section that connects to the Seattle Hilton Hotel. Two Union Square holds the ranking for 129th tallest building in the United States.

5. – Seattle Municipal Tower

The Seattle Municipal Tower is an office building that soars 722 feet into the air. Within the tower, 62 floors house various companies and corporate operations. In addition to being the fifth tallest building in Seattle, the Seattle Municipal Tower was the tallest building constructed in Seattle throughout the 1990s. Currently, the tower is the 151st tallest building in the United States.

6. – F5 Tower

Another tall downtown skyscraper is the F5 Tower. In addition to being a luxury hotel, the tower is home to F5 Networks, a cutting-edge global technology company. The F5 Tower stands 660 feet above the ground and encompasses 43 floors. Completed in 2017, the tower holds the record for the tallest building to be constructed in Seattle during the 2010s. One interesting aspect of this tower is that its floors grow wider as the height of the building increases. This impressive engineering and architectural feat is another reason that the F5 Tower remains an integral part of Seattle’s Skyline.

7. – Safeco Plaza

Completed in 1969, Safeco Plaza was the first modern office building in Seattle. In addition to this, the tower was also the first skyscraper in the world with a Vierendeel space frame. This frame eliminated support beams to create a more open floor plan often associated with modern architecture. Safeco Plaza soars 630 feet into the sky over 50 floors of office space. Although the building is now referred to as Safeco Plaza, its original name was the Seattle-First National Bank Building.

#8 – US Bank Center

Although the US Bank company has many centers across the country, its branch in Seattle is by far one of the most impressive. Originally known as the Pacific First Center, the US Bank Center stands at an impressive height of 606 feet. The building’s height spans 44 floors of office space and has been in operation ever since construction was completed in 1989.

9. – Space Needle

The Space Needle is arguably the most iconic building in Seattle’s skyline. Unlike any other buildings on this list, the Space Needle’s sole purpose is to serve as an observation tower. There are only five floors in the building, consisting of a gift shop, restaurant, and observation area. When the Space Needle was completed in 1962 for the World Fair, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Today, the Space Needle is the tallest observation tower in Washington and the fourth tallest observation tower in all of the United States.

Another interesting fact about the Space Needle is that the tower contains the world’s first revolving floor. This means that the main level of the building rotates slowly, allowing restaurant guests to experience a panoramic view of the greater Seattle area. Surprisingly, the Space Needle is only one foot shorter than the US Bank Center, measuring 605 feet in height.

10. – Russell Investments Center

The tenth tallest building in Seattle is the Russell Investments Center. Holding the record for the tallest building to be constructed in Seattle during the 2000s, the Russell Investments Center reaches 598 feet in height. 42 floors of office space span the height of the building and have been in operation ever since construction was completed in 2006. Interestingly, when the Russell Investments Center was built, it was the first skyscraper in 15 years that dramatically changed Seattle’s skyline. Today, the building has cemented itself as an iconic component of the famous skyline that so many people call home.