Seattle Convention Center’s Summit Building Wins 2022 World Design Award

SEATTLE – Ahead of its grand opening in January 2023, The Architecture Community – the leading International Architecture Awards Platform – has recognized Seattle Convention Center’s Summit addition with the prestigious 2022 World Design Award. One of the most coveted honors in the architecture and design communities, this award celebrates outstanding ideas that redefine architecture design through the implementation of novel technologies, materials, programs, aesthetics, and spatial organizations along with studies on globalization, flexibility, adaptability, and the digital revolution. 

LMN Architects Partner Mark Reddington comments, “Positioned in a unique location in Seattle where you can experience the life of the city and the natural landscape, the Seattle Convention Center Summit Building is designed to engage and enrich its unique urban setting. One of the main objectives in the design is to think about beyond simply a convention center and to make it an active contributing part of the evolution of this downtown core. As we continue to experience the building taking shape and prepare for the opening in 2023, it is exciting to envision how the project reaffirms the important role of community, art, and civic life.” 

“The original design intent was to create a downtown facility that brought connection with the neighborhoods and natural light into all levels, and provided flexible event options for our clients, sustainable and advanced technological operations, and fantastic views of the city from all corners of the building,” said Seattle Convention Center’s President and CEO Jeff Blosser. “Our final product has hit perfectly on all of these elements and is the new standard of how urban convention centers should be designed and constructed so they become a significant piece of the fabric in the community.” 

“Having Seattle Convention Center’s Arch and Summit, two spectacular buildings located in the center of the city, means attendees get to be in the heart of the Seattle when they’re in town for business,” said Kelly Saling, Visit Seattle’s senior vice president and chief sales officer. “Witnessing Summit come to fruition from design to completion has been so exciting. It’s an absolute beacon of light in our recovery and watching our customers create plans to utilize our city and the two buildings is awesome.” 

Summit occupies a pinnacle design position in the next evolution of convention centers, rooted in the urban core context and supported by a vertically organized flow. The stacked configuration maximizes the efficiency of the urban site, effectively bringing interior and exterior spaces together. Skylights bringing daylight deep into the event spaces, the layering of soft and hard landscape elements, and expansive views of the city in all directions enhance the urban nature of the facility. The design pays homage to Seattle with The Hillclimb: the Pine Street facade features a suspended stair and escalator system that provides event attendee access from street level to the ballroom level on top. The Hillclimb is an iconic design element authentic to the Pacific Northwest made of wood with seating elements for guests. 

Having already achieved LEED Gold certification – and aiming for Platinum – sustainability is at the core of Summit. Air handling units are equipped with economizer functionality, meaning they can run at 100% outside air, not recycled air, under moderate temperature conditions. Storm water treatment in outdoor planting areas will feature innovative sustainable strategies, and state-of-the-art waste dehydrators will transform food scraps into fertilizer to be used throughout the building. 

With more than 570,000 square feet of additional event space, the Summit will double Seattle Convention Center’s current capacity upon its opening in January 2023. The tandem spaces of Arch and Summit – located a block and a half from each other in the heart of Seattle’s retail core – will offer meetings and events professionals an incalculable range of configurations and opportunities to craft a truly special experience for their attendees. 

Media images available here. 

About Visit Seattle:
Visit Seattle has served as the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County for more than 50 years. A 501(c)(6) organization, Visit Seattle enhances the economic prosperity of the region through global destination branding along with competitive programs and campaigns in leisure travel marketing, convention sales and overseas tourism development. Visit visitseattle.org. 

About Seattle Convention Center:
Located in the heart of Seattle and walking distance to world-class hotels, restaurants, entertainment and attractions, the Seattle Convention Center has been the Northwest’s premier meetings and events facility since 1988. SCC welcomes visitors from around the globe, offering industry-leading service, award-winning catering, and a comprehensive range of services for event planners, exhibitors, and guests. With a longstanding commitment to sustainability, public benefits, art, and inclusivity, SCC provides visitors with a truly unique Northwest experience. For information, visit seattleconventioncenter.com.