Already heralded for a roster of sites and attractions that includes the world-famous Space Needle, Pike Place Market and Tacoma’s fabulous Museum of Glass, Greater Seattle continues to grow its venue variety in fine fashion.
Here’s a look at some of the area’s new and improved venue offerings—in Metro Seattle and its surrounding neighbors.
Seattle
“Seattle is home to small and large venues, offering something for all meeting sizes,” says Marco Bloemendaal, senior vice president, convention sales and services for Visit Seattle, adding that one of the city’s biggest and best event venues is currently receiving a serious makeover.
“The Washington State Convention Center’s $20 million transformation throughout 2013 will not only give the facility a whole new look but add even more eco-conscious enhancements to a very green convention center,” Bloemendaal remarks, adding that the WSCC’s 343,722 square feet of space connects to its conference center’s 71,000 square feet of flexible space.
Other fresh venue news in the Emerald City includes the recent opening of the Chihuly Garden and Glass attraction by the Seattle Center. A combination exhibition hall, garden installation and conservatory, the new venue sparkles with works by the renowned glassblowing great. While the entire venue shines, the true focus is a sleek conservatory (the Glasshouse) that currently showcases a suspended 100-foot-long creation with an emphasis on reds and ambers.
The spectacular venue is available for private events of up to 1,000 attendees.
Meanwhile, the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) reopened at its new Lake Union location. Now housed in the revamped former Naval Reserve Armory, MOHAI will rotate frequently changing exhibitions through much of its facility, with a core exhibit showcasing countless artifacts and photographs highlighting Puget Sound’s past.
The venue boasts some superb event spaces, including a grand atrium with reception-style capacity for 700. PageBreak
Bellevue
Bellevue is buzzing over the recent addition of a hip new hub of events and activity.
“Located in the heart of downtown Bellevue, Cast Iron Studios is an inviting urban retreat in a vintage industrial setting,” says Larry Kurofsky, managing partner at the venue. “It offers the Eastside a new, exciting, flexible space ideal for corporate events, holiday parties and team-building activities.”
While capacity for the cutting-edge, industrial-style studios is 250, groups of up to 500 can do a complete buyout of “the corner,” which includes Cast Iron as well as the adjoining Lot. No 3 Gastropub and Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. The establishments are all part of the Heavy Restaurant Group, which also operates the sleek Barrio on Seattle’s Capitol Hill and three other Purple branches in the area.
Cast Iron Studios also offers workshops, with a stable of expert chefs, wine and spirits aficionados and others, utilizing their talents to create private experiences for companies and groups.
Southside/SeaTac
The Museum of Flight on Seattle’s Southside has long been an appealing venue, but it received a huge boost in November with the opening of a spectacular new addition.
The museum’s new Charles Simonyi Space Gallery is now the permanent home to NASA’s Space Shuttle Trainer, a full-scale replica of an actual shuttle that has been used by hundreds of astronauts for more than 30 years to train for every single mission.
Tours for groups of six or smaller are available and offer the unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of countless U.S. astronauts.
Aside from the Space Gallery, event options at the gallery range from a woodsy Red Barn venue to a snazzy theater and a handsome boardroom.PageBreak
Tacoma
In recent years, the cutting-edge Museum of Glass and spacious Tacoma Dome have grabbed much of the city’s event-space spotlight, but a recent wave of activity has brought new life to Tacoma’s venue variety.
Following its renovations this spring, the Foss Waterway Seaport will be the largest maritime education center on the West Coast, including a museum with nearly 40,000 square feet of event space.
LeMay—America’s Car Museum, opened in June 2012 and is hailed by Guinness Book of World Records as the largest privately held car collection in the world. The venue can host events for up to 2,500 attendees.
Additionally, the Star Center opened in May 2012. The venue includes a spacious hall designed for large events, reception space, studios and even a demonstration kitchen.
Snohomish County
In Snohomish County, culture is at the heart of some recent venue activity, including the August 2011 opening of the Tulalip Tribes Hibulb Cultural Center. Located on the Tulalip Reservation, the venue has a superb collection of artifacts on display and even a full-scale traditional cedar longhouse. Event areas include classrooms that double as banquet space, plus some adjoining open-air patios.
Also worthy of any planner’s consideration is the Schack Art Center in Everett, which debuted in May 2011. The 19,000-square-foot venue comprises a glass-blowing hot shop and cold shop, exhibit space, a kiln studio, a gallery store and other facilities. Live/work lofts above the center draw visual artists from all over the Northwest, and event spaces include studios perfect for a midsize dinner affair, with an adjoining catering kitchen.
