SEATTLE
The Courtyard Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square has completed a 19-month, $750,000 restoration of its historic building as a demonstration of its commitment to the continued growth and revitalization of its beloved Seattle neighborhood.
Nestled in the heart of Seattle's vibrant historic district, the downtown Seattle hotel is an adaptive reuse of the 1904 Historic Alaska Building, embodying rich tradition and beauty. While the restored Pioneer Square hotel today houses smartly redesigned rooms, a high-tech lobby and numerous modern amenities, the building's historic roots have not been forgotten.
Originally completed in 1904 as the tallest building in the city at the time, the property is considered by many to represent the beginning of the modern-day Seattle. The 15-story steel-framed, fireproof skyscraper harkens back to a period of economic and industrial growth.
When the building first opened, the Scandinavian-American banking hall occupied the first floor, while the Alaska Club, a prominent commercial organization of residents and entrepreneurs, convened in the penthouse and maintained a reading room that featured Alaska newspapers and mineral exhibits. The Alaska Building came to represent the significance of the gold rush in Seattle and what the city's future would hold.
A New Beginning for Pioneer Square
After 110 years, the decorative facade and imposing lion heads that adorn the building parapet began to show their age with signs of water intrusion in the decorative terracotta. In an effort to restore the building's beauty while remaining loyal to its roots, the Pioneer Square hotel began to embark on the necessary efforts in early 2013 to make the old new again.
Detailed engineering, material sourcing and the permitting process were undertaken to develop the necessary design plan to return the Alaska Building to its original state. The design review was conducted by the National Parks Service as well as the Pioneer Square Preservation Board. After several proposals were presented, the final designs and engineering plans were approved.
About 19 months later, the downtown Seattle hotel is proud to announce the completion of its restoration and invites guests to come fall in love with a piece of the state's history while enjoying the comforts and conveniences of its modern interior.
Design Details and Additional Hotel Info
With a lobby featuring a contemporary seating area and interactive GoBoard, the Pioneer Square hotel is designed for the well-traveled visitor. At The Bistro - Eat. Drink. Connect., guests will find breakfast, dinner and cocktail options all without leaving the hotel.
After a long day of meetings, guests will enjoy winding down in guest rooms featuring functional spaces to work and relax. With amenities such as complimentary high-speed Internet, spacious desks with ergonomic chairs, luxury bedding and mini-refrigerators, visitors will find everything they need to make their time on the road productive and comfortable.
The Courtyard Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square at 612 Second Ave. in Seattle, Wash., is in the heart of the city's vibrant historic district near Safeco Field, CenturyLink Field and the cruise terminals at piers 91 and 66. The downtown Pioneer Square hotel has 15 floors featuring 222 rooms, 40 suites, nine meeting rooms with 4,600 square feet of flexible meeting space, a health club, indoor pool and state-of-the-art lobby.
