Does anyone live in the Smith Tower?
- Petra Franklin, the woman who lives at the top of the Smith Tower with her two daughters, often hosts gatherings like lectures and concerts for the public.
Why is Smith Tower famous?
In 1914, Smith Tower became the first skyscraper in Seattle and the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. For more than one hundred years, it has remained a cultural icon of the city, offering breathtaking, panoramic views and spectacular architectural beauty.
How old is the Smith Tower?
108Smith Tower / Age (c. 1914)
Does Petra Franklin still live in the Smith Tower?
Petra Franklin and her two daughters, Simone, 14, and Naomi, 11, are living any kid's dream adventure — at least a kid who isn't afraid of heights, that is. The trio lives in the pyramid-shaped penthouse atop Seattle's historic 42-story Smith Tower, high above the bustling streets of Pioneer Square.
How old is the oldest building in Seattle?
Having been built in 1882, it is one of the oldest houses in Seattle....Ward House (Seattle)Built1882Architectural styleVictorianNRHP reference No.72001277Significant datesAdded to NRHP16 March 19728 more rows
What is the Space Needle used for?
The Space Needle offers 360-degree views from its three main viewing areas – an indoor observation deck and open-air viewing area located at 520 feet, and an observation level featuring a revolving glass floor located 500 feet above ground.
How long was Smith Tower the tallest building?
“The Smith Tower, 500-foot-tall building, will lose the crown it has worn nearly 50 years as the tallest office structure on the Pacific Coast to a new building in San Francisco,” the Times reported. May 1976: Although the property had changed hands several times, it hadn't ever had a celebrity owner.
Is the CN tower taller than the Space Needle?
At 1,815 feet the CN Tower is exactly three times taller than our our beloved landmark. It has two observation decks. The SkyPod, at 1,465 feet, is nearly a thousand feet higher than the Needle's viewing platform.
When was the Space Needle built?
April 17, 1961Space Needle / Construction started
How much does it cost to live in the Smith Tower?
The 2,128-square-foot unit on the 37th and 38th floor of the Smith Tower in downtown Seattle now rents for a reduced price of $13,750 a month. The one-bedroom living space includes a full kitchen, two bathrooms, and a catwalk that leads to the iconic glass ball at the tip of the Smith Tower spire.
How much does it cost to rent a Smith Tower?
The price: $17,000 a month. Listed for the first time since it was renovated in the late '90s, the 2,128-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment spans two levels.
Who lives at the top of Smith Tower?
Petra Franklin LahaiePetra Franklin Lahaie may be known in tech circles as a venture capitalist. But the 46-year-old is probably better known as the person who lives atop the Smith Tower, the Seattle landmark which once claimed the title of the tallest building on the West Coast.
How long was the Smith Tower the tallest in Seattle?
“The Smith Tower, 500-foot-tall building, will lose the crown it has worn nearly 50 years as the tallest office structure on the Pacific Coast to a new building in San Francisco,” the Times reported. May 1976: Although the property had changed hands several times, it hadn't ever had a celebrity owner.
When was the Space Needle built?
April 17, 1961Space Needle / Construction started
How many stories is the Space Needle?
6Space Needle / Floors
When was Smith Tower built?
1911Smith Tower / Construction started
Who was the only owner of the Smith Tower?
Reputedly, Haglund was the only owner to make money on his Smith Tower investment.
How tall is the Smith Tower?
When Seattle's pyramid-capped Smith Tower officially opened on July 4, 1914, its greatest claim to fame was its 462-foot height. It was originally one of the tallest buildings in the country outside of New York, and was the tallest west of Ohio. This territorial hegemony steadily shrank as higher buildings marched westward: By 1923 it was the tallest west of Chicago, by 1931 the tallest west of Kansas City, and by 1943 the tallest west of Dallas, but it did remain the tallest building west of the Rockies for nearly half a century. At birth it was nearly twice as tall as the previously highest building in town (the 247-foot clock tower of the King Street Station), but by 1985 it was less than half the height of the 937-foot Bank of America Tower (originally Columbia Center.)
How tall is the Seattle building?
Plans on file with Seattle's Department of Planning and Development reveal that the building is about 462 feet tall (the drawings are not fully dimensioned, and some scaling is required), using standard definitions of height which do not include flagpoles as part of the calculation.
How many stories are there in the Smith Tower?
One could reasonably conclude that the Smith Tower had 36 stories when it opened, counting the odd 34th floor that was not meant for human occupancy. Decades later, a caretaker's apartment was built on the 36th floor, and its top could be considered floor number 37.
How many times has the Smith Tower changed hands?
Altogether, the building has changed hands 12 times . On more than one occasion it was studied as a possible city- or county-owned office building, but found to be unsuited for such a role each time. (However, government agencies have leased space there on occasion.) Its most famous owner was restaurateur Ivar Haglund, who watched the building rise as a child, and acquired it in the 1970s. To the consternation of preservationists, (but very likely to the building's esthetic benefit) he removed the heavy masonry balusters from the edge of the observation balcony and substituted a lighter cage of white-painted steel bars. Reputedly, Haglund was the only owner to make money on his Smith Tower investment.
How many stories is the Burns Smith building?
Smith died in 1910, and in October of that year Burns Smith announced that "the structure will be 42 stories high, and not one story less. It will be finished as finely as money and brains know how. As far as possible, local materials will be used and local labor employed.".
What was the first skyscraper?
Historical significance: It has been called one of the world's first skyscrapers. Chicago's Home Insurance Building , generally considered to be the first skyscraper, was completed 30 years before the Smith Tower.
When was Smith Tower renovated?
Smith Tower underwent an extensive renovation in 1998, including improvements to HVAC, electrical, life safety systems, telecommunications, and seismic performance.
What is the oldest skyscraper in Seattle?
Smith Tower. Smith Tower is a historic high-rise office building in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood. Built in 1914, it is the oldest skyscraper in Seattle.
Smith Tower Penthouse
Built in 1914, the Smith Tower was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi upon its completion. No expense was spared in the construction of this ambitious 462-foot-tall building, with interiors finished in rich materials and ornate detailing.
Smith Tower Penthouse in Seattle, Washington State – Building Information
Architect: Graham Baba Architects Graham Baba Architects team Jim Graham, Principal in charge Jeff King, Project Manager
Washington Architecture
Modern Oasis, Medina, Eastside, King County, Washington, USA photo : Lara Swimmer Washington house by SkB Architects
How many windows are there in the Smith Tower?
Located at 506 2nd Avenue, the building has taken three and a half years to construct. The Smith Tower is built with 1,400 doors, 2,000 windows, and 40,000 feet of molding.
Who visited the Smith Building in Seattle?
On July 3, 1914, the day before it opened, the building received a surprise visit from Vice Admiral Teijiro Kuroi of the Japanese Navy. Kuroi, and more than 1,500 officers, cadets, and sailors, were visiting Seattle aboard two first-class naval cruisers, and the Vice Admiral had been looking at the Smith building all morning from the deck of his flagship. Kuroi called the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and told them, "I am burning with desire to see your beautiful city from the top of its highest building" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 4, 1914).
How many people visited the Burns Smith observation deck?
More than 1,500 people visited the observation deck between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. and many of them promised to tell their friends about their visit. A few months after the opening, Burns Smith announced that he would soon add a luxurious restaurant in the basement that could seat more than 600 people.
Why did Burns Smith open the pyramid?
Only July 4, 1914, Burns Smith formally opened the tower to the public, so that people could see all of the hard work that went into building it.
How many flights of stairs did Hi Gill climb to the observation deck?
The next day, Mayor Hi Gill (1866-1919) got a visit. Gill opted to ride the elevator for 18 stories, and then climb 24 flights of stairs to the observation deck.
When did the Smiths visit Seattle?
The Smiths had visited Seattle in 1888, but purchased the properties from Clise sight unseen. After the elder Smith died in 1910, Burns Smith announced plans to carry through on the construction of a towering skyscraper on their Seattle property, a dream that his father had been contemplating for some time.
Who invited Kuroi to the building?
The Chamber was happy to oblige and invited Kuroi to the building, where he was greeted by Burns Smith, who presented him with ticket No. 1 to the observation deck. Atop the building, Smith pointed out local landmarks, including where Mount Rainier would be visible had it not been so cloudy, but Kuroi wanted to go higher still. Smith allowed him to climb the spiral staircase inside the building pyramid cap, which gave him a view from just under the glass ball on top of the structure. The Vice Admiral was delighted.
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