Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Even if you're not attending the symphony, you can walk through the foyer and mar-
vel at the 20ft-long chandeliers, specially created by Tacoma glassmaker Dale Chihuly.
SEATTLE TOWER
LANDMARK
(1218 3rd Ave; University St)
Formerly the Northern Life Tower, this 26- story art-deco
skyscraper, built in 1928, was designed to reflect the mountains of the Pacific Northw-
est. The brickwork on the exterior blends from dark at the bottom to light on top, the
same way mountains appear to do. Check out the 18-karat-gold relief map in the lobby.
SAFECO PLAZA
LANDMARK
( University St)
Built in 1969, and originally known as 1001 Fourth Avenue Plaza, this
was one of the city's first real skyscrapers. At the time, 1001 Fourth Ave Plaza was a
darling of the architectural world, though nowadays the 50-story bronze block looks
dated. Locals nicknamed it 'the box that the Space Needle came in.'
sculpture by Henry Moore - a result of Seattle's '1% for art' clause, under which 1% of
the construction cost of the building is invested in public art.
ARCTIC BUILDING
LANDMARK
(700 3rd Ave, at Cherry St; Pioneer Sq)
The Arctic Building, completed in 1917, is
unique for its intricate terra-cotta ornamentation and 25 walrus heads peeking out from
the building's exterior.
Though the walruses' tusks were originally authentic ivory, an earthquake in the
1940s managed to shake a few of them loose to the ground. To protect passersby from
the unusual urban hazard of being skewered by falling tusks, the ivory was replaced
with epoxy.
TIMES SQUARE BUILDING
LANDMARK
(cnr Olive Way & Stewart St; Westlake)
This terra-cotta and granite structure, guarded by
eagles perched on the roof, was designed by the Paris-trained architect Carl Gould (who
also did the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the University of Washington's Suzzallo
Library). It housed the
Seattle Times
from 1916 to 1931.
