Washington State Convention Center Addition | LMN Architects

VISION

The Washington State Convention Center Addition presents a transformative opportunity at the intersection of an emerging culture of the delegate of the future, the evolving trends in the convention center industry and the development of Seattle’s vibrant urban core. As a catalyst for revitalizing and re-connecting Seattle’s core neighborhoods, the successful integration of the WSCC Addition with its surroundings will be the basis for a rich and unique experience for delegates and residents alike, an experience that is unique to Seattle.

SITE AND PROGRAM

The 1.5-million square foot addition to the Washington State Convention Center marks a transformative moment in the history of downtown Seattle. Located at the crossroads between more than seven of Seattle’s most iconic neighborhoods and touching four of its most prominent streets, the site positions the project to uniquely function as a connecting hub for multiple urban districts, redefining the long-anticipated mixed-use development zone north of the downtown retail core.

The facility incorporates 1,250,000 square feet of convention space and 250,000 square feet of parking and retail in an innovative program including stacked exhibit halls – located both above and below grade – two stacked meeting room levels and an industry leading 60,000 square foot ballroom. Loading is accomplished below grade, adjacent to the exhibit hall, preserving the pedestrian focus of the site.

The building engages the urban form at all of its 15 levels while each façade presents a highly interactive, transparent edge, blurring the boundaries of the site with the city context and the building program. Each program component embraces natural light and the major program spaces are connected vertically through the use of two large atriums.

A glass-enclosed stair along Pine Street positions the interior circulation patterns at the edge of the building, creating dramatic west-facing views to the Pike Place Market and Puget Sound, and broadcasting the energy of convention visitors. A broad street plaza at the corner of Pine and 9th Avenue collects the activity of local residents and visitors alike. Open air terraces on all levels, designed to accommodate a variety of events, look out to iconic views at the center of the Seattle experience.

The project also includes two adjacent blocks of mixed-use co-development towers to the north, planned as a 542,000 square foot office tower and a 404-unit residential tower. Both rise over street-level podiums with retail opportunities and sit above the convention center’s below-grade loading docks. The project’s contributions to the public realm are as massive as its scale, navigating a diverse mix of public-private intersections while catering to the next generation of convention delegates with expectations of a rich, unique, urban experience.