Click on the pictures to get a larger sized one!
Above: a few different views of the magnificent skyline of Seattle.
Of all of the cities I have visited in the United States so far, I probably like Seattle best.
Not only does it have a great skyline - which can be photographed in a great way from a couple of very fine angles -
the city is surrounded by a beautiful natural landscape full of lakes, rivers and mountains as well,
most notably Mount Rainier.
Although founded a mere 150 years ago (1851), the city has a few very special and beautiful spots,
like the historic Pioneer Square, with beautiful historic architecture, galleries and eateries.
Other great spots in Seattle include the Waterfront, Pike Place Market and Seattle Center,
home to Seattle's landmark and most famous structure: the Space Needle.
When the sun is out, people can escape the city by going to Alki Beach on West-Seattle,
or by taking a ferry-ride to Bainbridge Island or Vashon Island.
Seattle, christened 'The Emerald City', has a population of over 563.000 people, which makes it
24th in size among U.S. cities. The greater Seattle area is home to 2.7 million people.
Above: Seattle's tallest skyscraper, Columbia Center (a.k.a. Bank of America Tower) (285m/937f, 76 stories, 1985).
By number of stories, the building is the tallest building west of the Mississippi River
(height wise, US Bank Tower in LA is the tallest building west of the Mississippi (310m/1,017f)).
Cost of construction were $285 million, and approximately 5,000 people work in the Tower.
The building was originally designed as a 306m/1,005-foot-tall tower, but because the structure was
in the flight path to the Seattle-Tacoma Airport the building was shortened,
though the originally planned 76 stories of the tower were retained by shortening the floor to floor height.
The building has an observation deck, which is open on business hours from Monday - Friday.
This deck, on the 73rd floor, gives views towards the north (partly), south and west of the city.
Entrance fee is $5,- (in 2002!).
Above: arguably Seattle's best looking skyscraper: Washington Mutual Tower.
Seattle's second tallest: 235m/772m, 55 stories, 1988.
Above: seven pictures of Two Union Square, Seattle's 3nd tallest (226m/740f, 56 stories, 1989).
Above: Seattle Municipal Tower, Seattle's 4th tallest (220m/722f, 57 stories, 1990).
Until May 2004, the tower was known as Key Tower.
Above: view from the observation deck of the Space Needle of part of downtown,
with in the background on the right, Mount Rainier (4,393m/14,410f).
The pictures on this and the 2nd page were all taken in 2002.
Since then, Seattle has had a few additions to its skyline,
the tallest being WaMu Center (182m/598f, 42 stories, 2006).
At the end of 2002, IDX was completed (156m/512f, 40 stories),
while the tallest building currently under construction is Olive 8;
this skyscraper will be 140m/460f, 39 stories, 2008.
The tallest proposed and approved skyscrapers are 1918 Eight Avenue (152m/500f, 36 stories),
and 8th and Pine (152m/500f, 45 stories); both will probably be completed in 2009 or 2010.
(Patrick Beckers, January 2007)
Click here to go to page 2 of Seattle
Seattle's 10 tallest skyscrapers:
1. COLUMBIA CENTER 285m/937f, 76 stories, 1985
2. WASHINGTON MUTUAL TOWER 235m/772f, 55 stories, 1988
3. TWO UNION SQUARE 226m/740f, 56 stories, 1989
4. SEATTLE MUNICIPAL TOWER 220m/722f, 57 stories, 1990
5. 1001 FOURTH AVENUE PLAZA 192m/630f, 50 stories, 1969
6. WAMU CENTER 182m/598f, 42 stories, 2006
7. US BANK CENTRE 177m/580f, 44 stories, 1989
8. WELLS FARGO CENTER 175m/574f, 47 stories, 1983
9. BANK OF AMERICA FIFTH AVENUE PLAZA 166m/543f, 42 stories, 1981
10. UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA 163m/536f, 42 stories, 1973
The building data, the top 10 of tallest buildings and some of the building information are courtesy of
EMPORIS.COM, one of the world's leading architectural resources on tall buildings.
All pictures copyright (c) 2002 Patrick Beckers. All Rights Reserved.
Download of any pictures from this site without written consent is strictly prohibited, unless for personal use!
This personal use does NOT include using the pictures on other web sites.
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