Safeco Plaza, Seattle

Downtown Seattle's oldest skyscraper, Safeco Plaza is a 50-story, 630 feet (192 meters) tower that locals sometimes refer to as "the box the Space Needle came in". When the structure was completed in 1969, it dwarfed Smith Tower, which had reigned as Downtown's tallest building since 1914, and edged out the Space Needle (1962) in Seattle Center by 25 feet (7.6 meters) to become the tallest structure in the city for sixteen years, until the completion of the Columbia Center in 1985.

The bronze-colored aluminum and glass structure was the first modern class-A office building in Seattle and is the first skyscraper in the world to feature a Vierendeel "space frame" capable of transferring and resisting bending moments. At the ground level there is a two-story lobby as well as other amenities including 15,000 square feet (1,400 square meters) of ground-floor retail that features a fitness center, a bank, some restaurants, a medical center, and a post office.

Just outside, a definite highlight is Henry Moore's abstract bronze creation, "Vertebrae 1968" 鈥� the British artist's amazing three-part sculpture with three interlocking elements inspired by bones or flints. It was cast in edition of four; the others three are at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and the Landesbausparkasse in M眉nster, with the artist's copy at the Henry Moore Foundation in Perry Green, Hertfordshire.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Seattle. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Safeco Plaza
Sight Location: Seattle, USA (See walking tours in Seattle)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Seattle Architecture Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Seattle, Washington

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Seattle, Washington, boasts a wealth of religious sites of various denominations 鈥� together reflecting the city's diverse spiritual heritage. Besides being purely centers of faith, these buildings are an important part of the city's historical heritage, some of them standing as architectural marvels, each with its unique story.

Trinity Parish Church, founded in 1865, is... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles

Seattle Architecture Walking Tour

In terms of towering skyscrapers abuzz with commerce, upscale shopping & dining, and splendid theaters, Downtown Seattle resembles many American cities. At the same time, it is also unexpectedly pleasant with hills, outdoor sculptures, and peek-a-boo views of Elliot Bay's sparkling water. Still, the diverse architectural landscape of the city is distinctive primarily for its landmark... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

Seattle Introduction Walking Tour

Overlooking Puget Sound's Elliott Bay on the West Coast of the United States, the port city of Seattle is renowned for its surrounding waters, mountains, evergreen forests, and thousands of acres of parkland. The largest metropolitan area in today's Washington State had been inhabited by Native Americans for at least 4,000 years prior to the European pioneers. The first European to set... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles

Fremont Neighborhood Walking Tour

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One of its most iconic landmarks is the Fremont Troll, a massive sculpture of a troll lurking underneath the Aurora Bridge.

At the height of its counterculture days, Fremont renamed... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles

Seattle Center Walking Tour

Immediately north of Downtown Seattle, you will find the ever-popular Seattle Center. Developed for the 1962 World's Fair, this 30-hectare (74-acre) park and arts & entertainment center contains numerous landmarks. It is also where Seattle's biggest festivals, concerts, film screenings, and theatrical performances are held.

At the heart of this bustling area stands the iconic... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles

Pioneer Square District Walking Tour

Pioneer Square, the district where Seattle was founded in the mid-19th century, had gone through its boom and near-bust until a period of preservation managed to save it for a new life. Today, this is the most historic part of Seattle that holds a special place in the city's yesteryear and is home to several noteworthy landmarks and attractions.

One of the most prominent sites in the area... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles

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