1200 Fifth, formerly the IBM Building, is a 20-story office building in the Metropolitan Tract, part of downtown Seattle, Washington, United States.[4] The building was designed by Minoru Yamasaki, who also was architect of Rainier Tower on the corner diagonally opposite, and the World Trade Center in New York City.[5] Construction on the building began in May 1963 and it was completed in October 1964.[6][7]

1200 Fifth
1200 Fifth is located in Seattle WA Downtown
1200 Fifth
Location within downtown Seattle
Former namesIBM Building
General information
TypeCommercial offices
Location1200 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, Washington, 98101
Coordinates47°36′30″N 122°19′59″W / 47.608398°N 122.332935°W / 47.608398; -122.332935
Construction startedMay 1963
CompletedOctober 1964
OwnerUnico Properties
Height
Roof84.13 m (276.0 ft)
Technical details
Floor count20
Floor area225,000 sq ft (20,900 m2)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Minoru Yamasaki
NBBJ
Structural engineerMagnusson Klemencic Associates
Main contractorHoward S. Wright Companies
References
[1][2][3]

Nard Jones wrote in 1972 that "There is an architectural poetry about [the building] that is at variance with the endless jibes at computerization and the alleged sober pragmatism of IBM personnel."[8] The building's crown has a series of 191 "fins" that measure 23 feet (7.0 m) tall and surround the machinery floors.[9]

The corner of the complex at 5th Avenue and University Street was the site of the Seattle Ice Arena from 1915 to 1963.

References

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  1. ^ "Emporis building ID 119482". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "1200 Fifth". SkyscraperPage.
  3. ^ 1200 Fifth at Structurae
  4. ^ "IBM Building". The Skyscraper Center. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  5. ^ Woodridge, Sally B.; Roger Montgomery (1980). A Guide to Architecture in Washington State. University of Washington Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-2959-5779-1.
  6. ^ "Construction To Begin On IBM Building". The Seattle Times. May 11, 1963. p. 11.
  7. ^ Staples, Alice (November 8, 1964). "Construction Industry Honors Structure From Ivy-Covered To IBM". The Seattle Times. p. 22.
  8. ^ Jones, Nard (1972). Seattle. Doubleday. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-3850-1875-3. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "Crown Fin for IBM Building". The Seattle Times. June 11, 1964. p. 21.
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