Opening January 2023, the new Seattle Convention Center Summit building presents a transformative opportunity to raise awareness of the emerging culture of meetings and the convention delegate of the future, the evolving trends in the convention center industry and the development of Seattle’s urban core.

Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, the new SCCS Summit Building adds 248,450 square feet of exhibit space, 62 meetings rooms and a 58,000-square-foot ballroom to the original Seattle Convention Center, doubling its capacity, as well as introducing to the city a new 30-story residential tower and 16-story office building, along with a number of additional public spaces.

© Adam Hunter / LMN Architects

Each component of the new SCCS building embraces natural light, with major spaces connected vertically by two large atriums. The glass-enclosed escalator Hillclimb along Pine Street positions the interior circulation patterns at the edge of the building, creating dramatic west-facing views to Pike Place Market and Puget Sound, while open-air terraces on all levels are designed to accommodate a variety of events. The building engages the urban form on all five floors, while each façade presents a highly interactive, transparent edge.

© Level Hotels & Furnished Suites

In addition to the new Summit building, both business and leisure visitors to Seattle will be pleased to find three new Seattle hotels, all opened in summer 2022. The Level Seattle Hotel – South Lake Union sits in the heart of one of Seattle’s most exciting neighborhoods. Steps from both the South Lake Union streetcar and light rail stop and only 25 minutes from SeaTac International Airport, guests are completely connected to everything in the city. Available for nightly and extended stays, the hotel offers 272 spacious studio-, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites offering fully-equipped kitchens; in-suite laundry; 24-hour guest services; and amenities including a basketball court, fitness center and luxurious indoor/outdoor entertaining spaces.

© Astra Hotel

Another summer opening in the same neighborhood is the 265-room Astra Seattle – South Lake Union, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio brand property. The new hotel provides business travelers access to Seattle’s tech epicenter while also being conveniently located to experience downtown, the waterfront and Seattle’s iconic attractions. Guests can unwind from the day in the hotel’s modern, well-appointed guestrooms, with sweeping views of Seattle and the Space Needle. The building features multiple dining options, including Caffe Ladro, a favorite of local coffee aficionados; Otium Grill & Greens, ideal for both casual business lunches or a chic dinner with drinks; and Altitude Sky Lounge, an upscale rooftop bar perched 16 stories high, featuring creative cocktails, charcuterie and unparalleled views. With 4,344 square feet of meeting space, event planners can host an unforgettable event in one of the hotel’s seven versatile, tech-enabled meeting spaces.

© citizenM

The third hotel to open last summer is citizenM Seattle Pioneer Square, in the historic Pioneer Square district, across the street from Seattle Ferry Terminal. This 232-room, nine-story property is close to many Seattle attractions, including CenturyLink Field, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and Waterfall Garden Park. The enclosure has a lovely brick and glass façade suiting the context of the neighborhood, and a local artist has created a large mosaic art installation incorporating aspects of the city’s and Pioneer Square’s history. The installation also brings the look of indigenous beadwork and storytelling to a large scale through the use of more than 5,000 six-by-six-inch porcelain tiles.