Completed in 1981 the Westin Building Exchange stands as a major telecommunications hub. Today we will explore its history and significance.
The Westin Building first housed the corporate offices of Westin Hotels. Westin Hotels was based in Seattle at the time. The building has 34 stories. It has a floor area of 386103 square feet.
But the Westin Building is more than just an office building. It is the heart of the Seattle Internet Exchange SIX. It also houses the Pacific Northwest Gigapop’s Pacific Wave Exchange. These facilities make it a crucial internet nexus point. It serves Alaska and the Western US.
Inside the Westin Building are Meet-me Rooms. These rooms facilitate interconnection between different networks. Telecommunication carriers and internet service providers use them to cross-connect their networks. Optical fiber cabling connects their POPs to the meet-me rooms. This setup allows for diverse service offerings without traditional telephone company interconnections.
Digital Realty acquired a majority stake in the Westin Building in 2020. They now manage the facility. The Westin Building continues to play a vital role in the region’s internet infrastructure.
The Westin Building’s impact extends beyond telecommunications. It demonstrates a commitment to sustainability. Heat generated from the building’s data centers is piped to Amazon’s Doppler building. This innovative system heats the Doppler building and other Amazon buildings.
The system saves an estimated 80 million kilowatt hours of electricity over 25 years. That’s equivalent to 65 million pounds of coal. Impressively over 80% of Seattle’s electricity comes from hydropower.
The Westin Building originally cost 30 million dollars to construct. It features a steel frame. The frame is clad in pre-cast concrete panels. These panels are sheathed in Carrara marble. The glass was originally tinted bronze.
Designed by Hoffman Construction Company the Westin Building has evolved. It transformed from corporate offices to a key internet hub. Its architecture and innovative energy solutions contribute to its unique identity.
The Westin Building stands as a testament to Seattle’s innovation. It reflects its position as a leader in technology and sustainability. From its early days as Westin Hotels’ headquarters to its current role as a telecommunications hub the Westin Building remains a dynamic and essential part of Seattle.