Rainier Tower
| Company type | Office building |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial real estate |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
| Products | Office space, retail space |
Rainier Tower stands as a 41-story skyscraper situated at 1301 Fifth Avenue within Seattle's Metropolitan Tract. The building, completed in 1977, was crafted by Minoru Yamasaki, the same architect responsible for the World Trade Center and the nearby IBM Building.
Its unique architectural form rests upon an 11-story concrete base that narrows toward the foundation, creating an effect similar to an inverted pyramid. This innovative structure was designed to protect the greenery of downtown Seattle while enhancing retail space at street level.
Previously located beneath the tower was Rainier Square, an underground shopping center linked to One Union Square and owned by the University of Washington (UW). This mall was taken down in 2017. Originally, both the tower and mall bore the name of Rainier Bank, which later merged into Security Pacific during the 1980s and subsequently into Bank of America. In 1989, the building was renamed Security Pacific Tower until UW reinstated the Rainier Tower name in 1995.
The building is commonly referred to by locals as the "Beaver Building" because its shape resembles a tree cut down by a beaver; it has also earned the nickname "golf tee" building.
In 2015, UW announced plans for the neighboring Rainier Square Tower, a mixed-use project reaching 850 feet. Construction commenced in September 2017 and concluded in 2020.
See also
External links
- Rainier Tower at Wright Runstad and Company