THE ARMORY

Location: Seattle City Center - Seattle, Washington
Type: Institutional
Sustainability: Adaptive Reuse

Constructed in 1939 as the Seattle Field Artillery Armory and then converted into an indoor gathering place for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, Seattle Center House is at the heart of the Seattle Center. Year round and from all corners of the globe, people flock to the Center to visit its iconic landmarks: the Space Needle, International Fountain, Pacific Science Center and Monorail. At the same time, numerous cultural events, educational activities and holiday celebrations are taking place – free and open to the public – at the Center House. Years of piecemeal renovations, though, had buried the beautiful original structure behind layer upon layer of construction. 

Working with the Seattle Center Redevelopment Agency and the City of Seattle, Graham Baba oversaw the renovation of the space, peeling back unsympathetic construction to reveal the original powerful architecture of this stately building. The space hosts over a dozen restaurants and cafes and includes a stage for entertainment.  In collaboration with Studio Matthews, the design effort also included rebranding and graphics, with a new name – The Armory. 

Photography:  Graham Baba Architects
Collaborators: SKL Architects
Signage & Wayfinding: Studio Matthews