Sky View Observatory

Taller than the Seattle Space Needle! Overview of the whole City and looking down on the space needle. A locals secret!  The Sky View Observatory is located on the 73rd floor of Columbia Center. At nearly 1,000 feet it offers the tallest public viewing area west of the Mississippi. The 360 degree panoramic view includes Mt. Baker, Bellevue, the Cascade Mountains, Mt. Rainier, Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, the Space Needle and the city of Seattle. Columbia Center, with its innovative structure composed of three interlocking concave facades, is an instantly recognizable landmark on the Seattle skyline.  Occupying a full city block in the heart of Seattle’s financial district, the 943 foot tower offers spectacular views of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, and the surrounding territory from its many offices and the public observatory on the 73rd floor.   Its convenient location provides easy access to Interstate 5, most major bus lines and light rail service in the Downtown Transit Tunnel.  The building is just a few blocks from the historic Pike Place Market and a mere 20 minutes from Sea-Tac International Airport. Developed by Martin Selig, the 76-story, 1.5 million square foot Columbia Center was completed in 1985.  Clad in smoked tempered glass and Carnelian granite, the structure boasts 8,800 windows, 2,100 hydronic heat pumps, 48 elevators, and 6 escalators.  The many technical innovations required for such a large scale project, such as viscoelastic dampers and triangle shaped bracing, enable Columbia Center to withstand earthquakes and hurricane force winds, making it one of the strongest and safest buildings in the Pacific Northwest.