Metropolitan Tract

In the Heart of Downtown Seattle

The Metropolitan Tract, 11 acres owned by the University of Washington in the center of downtown Seattle, includes the original site of the UW campus. As presently developed, the Metropolitan Tract contains over 1,500,000 rentable square feet of office space, over 200,000 rentable square feet of commercial retail space, some 450 hotel rooms, 92 residental units, and over 1,600 parking spaces based on a 2005 Resolve Real Estate Appraisal. The Metropolitan Tract is managed and operated through two long-term leases: one with Legacy Hotels for The Fairmont Olympic Hotel and garage, and the other with UNICO Properties, Inc., for all the other buildings in the Tract. In guiding Metropolitan Tract policy through the years, the Board of Regents has adhered to one primary objective: to generate maximum long-term revenue through the best possible use of this endowment of land and the subsequent improvements in a manner that effectively serves the mutual needs of the University as well as the local community.

Buildings of the Metropolitan Tract

History of the Metropolitan Tract

Map of the Metropolitan Tract

For general information contact: University of Washington Real Estate Office

For leasing information contact: Unico Rainier Tower: Lisa Stewart at Urbis Partners LLC: lstewart@urbispartners.com Fairmont Olympic Hotel retail: Susie Detmer of CB Richard Ellis: susie.detmer@cbre.com

Buildings of the Metropolitan Tract

Cobb Building 1305 Fourth Avenue, Seattle 98101 The Cobb Building is a fine example of early 20th century brick and ornamental terra-cotta design. Its location on Fourth Avenue in the city's center is ideal. In 2004 the University entered into a new lease with Unico to convert the Cobb building from obsolete medical office space to 92 rental residental units for tenants who desire a central location and a building with unique architectural character. Rainier Square is directly across Fourth Avenue and the University Street METRO bus tunnel is on the southwest corner of the block.
Fairmont Olympic Hotel 411 University Street, Seattle 98101 Located at the heart of the city's financial and business district, this hotel blends the splendor of another age with superb service and state-of-the-art amenities. Thoughtfully restored in 1980, The Olympic received a $60 million renovation preserving its timeless graciousness. The hotel is the only Five Diamond hotel in all of the Pacific Northwest and offers 450 rooms, including 208 suites. Also offering 20,000 square feet of meeting space, it can accommodate groups of 18 to 650. Retail shops include Coach, Jeri Rice and Luly Yang Couture. The University's original building was erected on the very site where the hotel now stands.
Financial Center 1215 Fourth Avenue, Seattle 98161 The Financial Center is home to a number of prestigious companies including Merrill Lynch and Marsh Inc. Street-level tenants include Wells Fargo Bank, Caffe Migliore and Purple Cafe. Parking is ample, and an underground concourse to the Cobb and Puget Sound Plaza Garage area provides convenient additional parking.
IBM Building 1200 Fifth Avenue, Seattle 98101 The IBM Building has been IBM Corporation's Northwest headquarters since 1964, and now is also the Northwest regional headquarters for Piper Jaffray. The building is perfectly located across Fifth Avenue from The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, and across University Street from the Hilton Hotel, Skinner Building, and Rainier Square. The popular restaurant, Benihana of Tokyo, is located at the plaza level. The building is renowned for the classical arches at its base designed by Minoru Yamasaki, who also designed The World Trade Center, and for its artwork. Among the treasured pieces are a 5,000-pound bronze water feature by Seattle artist James Fitzgerald in the landscaped multilevel plaza and a gold-leafed steel wall sculpture in the lobby by another noted Seattle artist, Norman Warsinske.
Puget Sound Plaza 1325 Fourth Avenue, Seattle 98101 Puget Sound Plaza boasts one of the most flexible floor plans available in Seattle. There are no interior columns, making it possible to divide the floor in almost any manner for very efficient interior design. It also offers lovely views of Puget Sound and a dazzling white marble exterior. Conveniences include ample parking, a Starbucks coffee shop in the lobby, distinctive retail at street level, a major branch of Key Bank, the University of Washington Extension's downtown campus, and a METRO bus tunnel entrance around the corner on University Street.
Rainier Tower and Rainier Square 1301 Fifth Avenue, Seattle 98101 Everyone in Seattle knows Rainier Tower, designed by Minoru Yamasaki, a landmark right in the center of town. The 40-story tower rises from a graceful pedestal and retail base to look out onto Seattle's most lovely views. The Rainier Square Concourse provides weather-protected access to unique shops and restaurants and The 5th Avenue Theatre. Some of the city's leading professional firms have chosen Rainier Tower as their Seattle headquarters. Rainier Square retail shops include Fox's Gem Shop, Louis Vuitton and Alexandria Rosoff Jewels.
Skinner Building 1326 Fifth Avenue, Seattle 98101 The Skinner Building is a Seattle classic, offering old-world elegance in a contemporary setting. It is home to The 5th Avenue Theatre, the historic-landmark theatre that now showcases dazzling productions of popular musicals, and to some of the neighborhood's most distinctive shops including Escada, St. John Boutique and Brooks Brothers. Vessel, a wine bar is next to the 5th Avenue Theater entrance and stairs leading to restaurants and the Rainier Square Concourse are adjacent to the theatre's box-office lobby.