Columbia Center
| Industry | Commercial real estate |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Bank of America Tower, Columbia Seafirst Center |
| Founded | March 2, 1985 in Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Martin Selig |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
Key people | Martin Selig (developer) |
| Products | Class-A office space, retail, observation deck, private club lounge |
| Owner | Gaw Capital Partners (as of 2015) |
| Website | www |
The Columbia Center, once known as the Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, is a 76-story high-rise located in downtown Seattle, Washington. Standing at , it holds the title of the tallest building in Washington state. Upon its completion in 1985, it was the tallest structure along the West Coast; as of 2017, it ranks fourth, trailing behind skyscrapers in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The project was developed by Martin Selig with architectural design by Chester L. Lindsey Architects. Construction commenced in 1982 and concluded in 1985. The tower mainly provides premium class-A office accommodations leased by multiple firms, alongside retail spaces on the lower levels and a public observatory plus an exclusive club lounge on its uppermost floors. It boasts the highest publicly accessible observation deck west of the Mississippi River and occupies nearly an entire block bordered by Fourth and Fifth Avenues, as well as Cherry and Columbia Streets.
Design
Washington-based architect Chester L. Lindsey was responsible for Columbia Center’s design. The building’s base is finished with Rosa Purino Carnelian granite, while its overall form consists of three concave geometric facades separated by two setbacks, creating the impression of three adjacent towers.
The elevation on Fifth Avenue is taller compared to Fourth Avenue, facing Cherry Street, which is among the steepest roads in Seattle’s Central Business District with a gradient of 17.1%. Although initially intended to reach approximately , FAA height restrictions near Sea-Tac Airport imposed limits on its vertical extent. Despite local zoning ordinances capping skyscraper heights at roughly 50 stories, developer Martin Selig obtained approval for 76 floors by exploiting a zoning loophole: the sloped terrain permitted three distinct retail levels with street entrances, qualifying for additional height allowances.
A viewing platform located on the 73rd floor offers sweeping vistas of Seattle, while the top two floors accommodate the private Columbia Tower Club, which includes dining facilities, a bar, a library, and meeting spaces. An underground walkway links Columbia Center to Seattle Municipal Tower and Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza.
Initially dubbed Columbia Seafirst Center after its primary occupant and financier Seafirst Bank—which was acquired by Bank of America in 1983—the building was subsequently renamed Bank of America Tower, earning the informal moniker "BOAT." In November 2005, following Bank of America’s reduction of its footprint in the building, the name reverted to Columbia Center; however, Bank of America continues to maintain office space while closing its branch at street level.
Development and construction
In October 1980, local real estate entrepreneur Martin Selig, who had recently completed the Fourth and Blanchard Building, unveiled plans for a 75-story office tower at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Columbia Street. The $120 million undertaking, called "Columbia Center," received financing from the Seafirst Mortgage Company and was constructed by Howard S. Wright.<ref> In 1981, Selig secured $205 million in loans to fund development.[1] Excavation started in 1982 with a deep dig requiring removal of soil. The foundation included concrete footings extending deep below street level—among Seattle’s most substantial foundations. Steel framing advanced at a pace of two floors per week, reaching completion on January 12, 1985,[2] with an official opening on March 2 that year.[3] Approximately of steel was provided by U.S. Steel Corporation.<ref> This new tower exceeded Seattle's previous tallest structure—the Seattle First National Bank Building (currently Safeco Plaza)—by roughly half again its height.
Financial challenges and height dispute
Until financial setbacks necessitated its sale, Selig retained ownership and oversight of the building, which was sold to Seafirst Corporation for $354 million in 1989. Management responsibilities were transferred to Tishman West Company based in Los Angeles.
The building’s towering stature triggered debate, leading to the enactment of the 1989 Citizen's Alternative Plan (CAP) legislation that enforced tighter restrictions on the size of structures in Downtown Seattle. In 1990, following earlier dismissed proposals for antennas, both Seattle authorities and the FAA granted approval for two antennas to be installed atop Columbia Center to serve regional radio and television broadcasting needs. Although the FAA initially raised concerns regarding airspace safety, it eventually consented to the antenna installation. Nevertheless, construction permits expired in 1994 without any work commencing.
Transitions in ownership
In 1998, EQ Office purchased Columbia Center from Seafirst for $404 million. Subsequently, the New York State Common Retirement Fund acquired a 49.9% interest before later divesting it back to EQ Office. Boston-based Beacon Capital Partners acquired the property from EQ Office in 2007 for $621 million; however, during the Great Recession in 2010, Beacon defaulted on a loan as vacancy rates surged to 40%. On August 7, 2015, Hong Kong’s Gaw Capital Partners completed acquisition of Columbia Center for $711 million.
Modernizations
On July 1, 2013, the Sky View observation deck at Columbia Center underwent renovations to provide visitors with an unobstructed 360-degree panoramic experience. Additional upgrades in 2018 included the installation of two express elevators and a redesigned lounge area, along with enhancements to the entrance on 4th Avenue.
September 11 attacks
The original plot behind the September 11 attacks, as disclosed by the 9/11 Commission on June 16, 2004, involved hijacking ten aircraft targeting notable skyscrapers such as the tallest buildings in California and Washington state—specifically naming Los Angeles’s U.S. Bank Tower and Seattle’s Columbia Center.
Events
Columbia Center is home to the world’s largest live firefighter competition—the LLS Firefighter Stairclimb—which annually draws approximately 2,000 firefighters who ascend all 69 floors and climb 1,311 steps while wearing full firefighting gear. This event benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Washington/Alaska chapter.
The Big Climb is a public event attracting roughly 6,000 participants who scale Columbia Center to raise funds exceeding $3 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Individuals aged eight years and older are eligible to participate.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Seattle
- List of tallest buildings in the United States
- List of tallest buildings by U.S. state
- Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park
- List of buildings