By MARC STILES
A fire pit is about the last thing you would expect to find at the base of Columbia Center, but one is on the way as the atrium of the 76-story Seattle icon undergoes a substantial makeover.
Urban Renaissance Group, the Seattle company that manages the Puget Sound region’s largest office building for owner Gaw Capital Partners of Hong Kong, on Monday shared details of the renovation.
Work started earlier this year and some parts are already taking shape, including a new covered deck south of the main entrance at 701 Fifth Ave.
Among the most striking components will be the upgraded main entry on Fourth Avenue. The dark canopy is being replaced with a three-story glass curtain wall, which will lead inside to what URG calls a “grand feature staircase” between the first and second floors.
Callison RTKL is the designer and Lease Crutcher Lewis is the general contractor on the the makeover, which opens up previously underused outdoor space, particularly south of the main entry on Fifth. This is the location of the new glass-canopy covered deck that looks out onto Smith Tower. This new space continues, wrapping around the west side of the building and leading to a seating area where the fire pit will be. Stadium seating, furnishings and landscaping already have been added.
“It was just not really accessible. You had to stand there to enjoy the view,” URG Founder and CEO Pat Callahan said. “I would describe (the overall renovation) as a refresh that will keep Columbia Center very relevant for a very long time.”
The upgrade comes as the 32-year-old tower faces competition from new office high-rises, including the nearby Madison Centre, which is wrapping up construction.
Additional improvements include replacing the atrium’s brick floors with a modern concrete finish and wood slat ceilings with new lighting.
Restaurants and shops will remain open during construction, which is scheduled to be done by next spring. The cost of the project was not disclosed.
Columbia Center is the tallest building in the Pacific Northwest and the Puget Sound region’s largest office building, with more than 1.5 million square feet. It’s currently 90 percent leased, according to Callahan.
This is the latest renovation for the property. Previous owner Beacon Capital Partners installed an LED light display on top of the tower two years ago as part of a $4.5 million upgrade, and earlier the 73rd-floor Sky View Observatory was renovated.
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