The 1.5-million-square-foot, $2 billion Summit building, Seattle Convention Centre’s addition, occupies four city blocks in the heart of Seattle’s urban core.
Located at the crossroads between many of Seattle’s densest neighbourhoods and framing four of its most prominent street corridors, the project marks a transformative moment in the history of downtown Seattle.
The event spaces are stacked vertically to integrate into the relatively compact urban footprint, positioning it within walking distance to a variety of hotels, retail spaces, and Pike Place Market.
Leonardo da Costa, Principal, LMN Architects, commented: “The demand for increased density and tall, more efficient buildings is making a mark on urban centres around the world. With its striking architecture and multiple levels, the Seattle Convention Center Summit offers a sense of excitement and innovation that enlivens Seattle’s skyline.
“The venue is designed to be a contemporary emblem for the future of urban meetings and events, contemplating how people interact in today's world and creating a space where people can experience the culture of Seattle’s distinctive urban core.”
The project represents a significant shift in the events industry model. From one single large event or conference to multiple smaller simultaneous meetings, the variety of meeting, event and public spaces feel connected and integrated, offering diverse environments – formal and informal, quiet and animated, planned and spontaneous.
The Centre also includes two mixed-use co-development towers, a 540,000 sf office tower under construction, an approximately 400-unit residential tower (in future plans), 36,000 sf of retail spaces distributed around the street frontages, and 16,000 sf of public open space.
Both towers rise over podiums with street-level retail and public-facing uses located above the convention centre’s below-grade loading docks.