Columbia Center
About
What It Is
Columbia Center is a 76-story skyscraper located at 701 Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle, Washington, occupying the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets. [3] Standing 933 feet tall, it is the tallest building in the state of Washington and, as of 2017, the fourth-tallest on the West Coast. [3] Developed by Martin Selig and designed by Chester L. Lindsey Architects, construction began in 1982 and the building opened in 1985. [3] The tower functions primarily as a Class A office building, with retail space on the lower floors and a public observatory on the 73rd floor. [3]
Activities & Experiences
The primary visitor attraction is the Sky View Observatory on the 73rd floor, which offers 360-degree panoramic views at 902 feet above street level, making it the highest public viewing area west of the Mississippi River. [3][4] From the observatory, visitors can see Mount Rainier, the Cascade Mountains, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, the Space Needle, Bellevue, and the city of Seattle. [4] The building's three-story retail atrium contains over 25 retailers and a range of food-to-go and dining options on site. [1] A bar and cafe operate within the observatory itself, with bar and cafe service ending 30 minutes before closing and espresso service ending one hour before closing. [2]
Practical Access
Tickets for the Sky View Observatory are purchased at the ground-floor ticketing desk or kiosks in the first-floor atrium; the main observatory entrance is on 4th Avenue, just south of Columbia Street. [2] Advance online purchase is advisable on weekends and during summer months when lines can build up. [5] The building is approximately a five-minute walk from Westlake Station, served by Link Light Rail, the streetcar, and multiple bus lines; the Columbia Center garage entrance is on Fourth Avenue, with parking validation available for observatory visitors. [5] The last elevator and ticket sale to the observatory stops one hour before closing, and Columbia Center doors lock one hour before observatory closing. [2] The observatory is closed on Thanksgiving (November 26) and Christmas Day (December 25) but open on Christmas Eve. [2]
Restrictions
The observatory floor is occasionally closed to the public for private events; checking the official website before visiting is advisable. [5] The Columbia Center doors may close at different times than the Sky View Observatory is open, and visitors are advised to arrive early if catching the last elevator. [2]
What Makes It Distinctive
Columbia Center holds the distinction of housing the highest public viewing area west of the Mississippi River, at 902 feet on the 73rd floor. [3][4] Its architectural design features three stacked geometric concave facades with two setbacks, clad in smoked tempered glass and Carnelian granite, giving it a profile unlike the rectangular towers typical of most city skylines. [4][5] The building incorporates structural innovations including viscoelastic dampers and triangle-shaped bracing, enabling it to withstand earthquakes and hurricane-force winds. [4] At the time of its 1985 completion it was the tallest structure on the West Coast, a record it held for decades. [3]
Sources
- Columbia Center Seattle - Columbia Center Seattle
- Sky View Observatory — Days and Hours of Operation by Month
- Columbia Center
- FAQs – Sky View Observatory & Bar
- Building – Columbia Center Seattle
- Sky View Observatory – Visit Seattle
- Sky View Observatory – CityPASS Seattle
- Columbia Center – Urban Renaissance Group
- Sky View Observatory, Seattle – City Sightseeing
- Sky View Observatory & Bar – Official Homepage
- Columbia Center Seattle – Home
- Open year-round
- Typical duration: 2h
Access & fees
- observatory tickets
- paid entry, observatory
- parking validation available
- Sky View Observatory Elite Experience: $47.00
- Sky View Observatory Sip & Sights: $37.00
- Sky View Observatory standard general admission: adult $27.00
Things to do
- 360° observation deck
- enjoy 360° panoramic views from the sky view observatory
- enjoy drinks, coffee, or light bites at the sky view bar & café
- learn about seattle through interpretive displays
- observe ferries, aircraft, and city activity from above
- on-site dining and retail
- photography
- spot major landmarks
- watch the sunset over seattle
Before you go
- buy tickets online in advance
- check website before visiting
- hours subject to change without notice
Amenities
- bar and cafe on observatory floor
- on-site dining and food-to-go
- on-site fitness center
- on-site retail atrium
- sky lobby, 40th floor
- underground concourse
Best time to visit
- clear-day views
Events & seasons
- private events close observatory
- private events, observatory closure
Features
- 76-story skyscraper
- completed 1985
- earthquake/wind engineering
- exterior cladding
- highest public viewpoint west of mississippi
- sky view observatory, 73rd floor
- structural design
- tallest wa building
- west coast height rank
Nearby
- seattle municipal tower
- westlake station
Good to know
- bar/cafe service ends
- building address
- building doors lock
- closed christmas day
- closed thanksgiving
- elevator ride time
- in spring and summer the Sky View Observatory opens daily with longer hours that vary by month; it can close early for private events, so check its hours page before booking
- last elevator cutoff
- observatory address
- observatory hours
- parking on site
- the Sky View Café & Bar is open Thursday to Sunday 11 AM to 7:30 PM; food and drink service stops 30 minutes before the deck closes
- the Sky View Observatory runs a winter schedule from 1 October to 28 February: the deck is open Thursday to Sunday 11 AM to 8 PM and closed Monday to Wednesday
- ticket purchase
- transit access
Photos
