Downtown Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Exchange Building

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 24, 2016

1. Exchange Building Marker

Inscription.
Opened in May 1930, the Exchange Building was designed to house more stock and mercantile exchanges than any building in the United States. It was constructed as one of the tallest and largest reinforced concrete structures in the world.

Designed in the Art Deco style, it features architectural ornamentation unique to the Pacific Northwest. Both lobbies and the exterior of the building are protected by the Seattle Landmark Preservation Board.

Renovated in 1999-2000, the building has been restored and modernized for the new millennium.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1930.

Location. 47° 36.26′ N, 122° 20.072′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It is in Downtown Seattle. Marker is at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Marion Street on 2nd Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 821 2nd Avenue, Seattle WA 98104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Burke Building Remnants (within shouting distance of this marker); First Post Office in Seattle (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Start of Seattle Fire Site (about 400 feet

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away); First School in Seattle (about 500 feet away); Alexis Hotel / Globe Building (about 500 feet away); Beebe Building (about 600 feet away); The Broderick Building (about 600 feet away); Carson D. Boren (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seattle.

Regarding Exchange Building. The Exchange Building is one of Seattle's outstanding Art Deco skyscrapers, with a magnificent gilded lobby on Second Avenue. Art Deco was a European-influenced modernistic style that became particularly popular for skyscrapers in the late 1920s....
Their defining characteristics were setbacks on the upper stories and bold ornamentation with stylized natural and geometric forms. As its name indicates, this tower was designed to house commodities and stock exchanges. Both the exterior and the interior have standard Art Deco decorative motifs combined with specialized forms symbolizing Washington commodities--stylized wheat sheaves, fruit and flowers. Especially notable are the stained glass windows at the entry with brightly-colored wheat sheaves.

Also see . . .

Exchange Building and Marker - Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 24, 2016

2. Exchange Building and Marker - Wide View

The marker is visible here mounted to the corner of the building.

1. Exchange Building. Emporis website entry (Submitted on November 10, 2016.)

2. "The unassuming Exchange Building holds a shimmering gilt-and-bronze lobby". Curbed website entry, by Meg van Huygen, June 28, 2018 (Submitted on March 31, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

The Exchange Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 24, 2016

3. The Exchange Building

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 10, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 484 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 10, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.