Curious about Seattle’s first Art Deco tower? Building 27, originally the Northern Life Tower, stands proudly on Third Avenue. This 27-story skyscraper marked a shift in Seattle’s skyline.
The Northern Life Insurance Company sought a building that symbolized reliability. Completed in 1929, Building 27 became a true skyscraper. It represented a departure from classical styles. Architects favored designs emulating technology’s speed and efficiency. Building 27 was Seattle’s first building to showcase Art Deco style.
The tower’s exterior boasts 33 shades of brick. This gradient lightens from bottom to top. It was inspired by local rock formations.
Back then, the Northern Life Tower was taller than the Smith Tower. The Northern Life Tower was one floor higher above sea level.
Imagine this: Over 200 floodlights once illuminated Building 27. This “phantasmagoric display” imitated the aurora borealis. It played on the Northern Life Insurance Company’s name.
The Northern Life Insurance Company occupied several stories. Executive offices were on the upper floors. Business departments and an assembly room occupied the fifth floor.
Groundbreaking occurred in February 1928. A cornerstone was laid in August 1928. The building was occupied in March 1929.
Abraham Albertson designed Building 27 with Joseph Wilson and Paul Richardson. Albertson moved to Seattle in 1907. He prepared plans for the Metropolitan Tract. By 1920, he founded his own firm.
The grand lobby features dark marble. Brass and gold leaf decorations add to its splendor. A brass bas-relief map displays Pacific trade routes. The map includes the motto “Westward the Course of Empire Takes its Way.”
In 1929, George Bartell leased space for his 15th drugstore. The store included a colored tile floor and mahogany showcases. A balcony extended across the rear.
Building 27, now known as the Seattle Tower, has seen many tenants over the years. These included the FBI and radio broadcasting companies.
In 1975, Building 27 joined the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also a designated city landmark.
The Northern Lights building, as locals called it, was a beacon. For decades, it dominated Seattle’s skyline. The aurora floodlights were dismantled in 1942.
Today, Building 27 remains an elegant Art Deco building. Although taller skyscrapers surround Building 27, its beauty endures. Take a moment to appreciate this architectural gem. It shows Seattle’s early 20th-century optimism. It is a piece of Seattle’s skyline.