Docusign Tower

Beneath the towering presence of Docusign Tower, a steel giant against the Seattle sky, lies a story of transformation. Docusign Tower, once known as First Interstate Center, has witnessed Seattle’s skyline evolve since its completion in 1983. Originally conceived as First Interstate Center, this 47-story skyscraper stands tall at 574 feet. It currently holds the ninth position among Seattle’s tallest buildings, a testament to the city’s ever-growing ambition. Docusign Tower offers a staggering 941,000 square feet of rentable space. Twenty-four elevators whisk people up and down its heights, a constant flow of activity within this steel and glass behemoth. Designed by The McKinley Architects, Docusign Tower is currently under the ownership of EQ Office, a Chicago-based company. The tower’s story is etched in its name changes, reflecting the shifting tides of ownership and the rise of new industries. From First Interstate Center to Wells Fargo Center in 1996, it finally embraced its current identity as Docusign Tower in 2020. This change marked Docusign’s expanded presence within the building, a lease that began in 2015. The building’s exterior is a striking blend of modern materials and design. Polished spring rose granite panels complement the tinted continuous double-glazed glass, creating a visual tapestry that captures the changing light of the Seattle sky. Like many structures in downtown Seattle, Docusign Tower navigates the city’s unique topography, standing on a slope. This creates a unique characteristic: the eastern entrance, facing Third Avenue, sits higher than its western counterpart facing Second Avenue. This difference in elevation is more than two stories. On the west side, a public hill-climb invites pedestrians upwards on two flights of outdoor escalators. Once encased in clear tubes, the escalators were modernized in 2006 with a sleek glass roof. The building also boasts three levels of outdoor plazas, offering spaces for respite and interaction amidst the urban bustle. Retail spaces line the west plaza, adding a layer of vibrancy to the building’s footprint. Docusign Tower stands on the site of a former landmark, the 12-story Olympic National Life building. Demolished by implosion in 1982, it marked the first such demolition in downtown Seattle. This event cleared the way for the modern marvel that now graces the city skyline. The Olympic National Life building, built in 1906, had a rich history of its own. Known at various points as the American Savings Bank and the Empire Building, it served as one of Seattle’s first steel skyscrapers. From a historic steel structure to a modern glass and granite giant, Docusign Tower’s story is interwoven with Seattle’s continuous transformation.