New Convention Facility Summit Breaks Ground In Seattle

A Sponsored Article from Visit Seatle

Author: Sarah Beauchamp       

Adding to the meeting destination’s already robust conference offerings, a new convention facility, Summit, has just broken ground in Seattle. Less than two blocks from the 414,000-square-foot Washington State Convention Center (WSCC)’s Arch building, the state-of-the-art, LEED-certified venue will provide planners with a space where attendees can feel connected to the city  while enjoying the amenities of the destination’s top meeting facilities.

NASPA, a leading association for student affairs professionals, plans to meet at WSCC for its annual meeting in 2024. Thousands of student affairs educators from all over the world will convene in Seattle to discuss critical higher education issues. “Our annual event will continue to focus on how our members can improve the collegiate experience,” Stephanie Gordon, vice president for professional development at NASPA, tells PCMA. “With the growth of our annual conference, the Summit building provides a distinctive new opportunity for us to bring our members to one of the best cities in the Northwest. The design and location will allow us to have a seamless flow between the current WSCC Arch building and the Summit building.”

The Summit building

Opening Spring 2022, the Summit building will offer more than half a million square feet of total event space, including 248,450 square feet of exhibit space, 59 meeting rooms, and a 58,000-square-foot ballroom. Summit and the existing Arch building (providing 280,700 square feet of exhibition and event space)  combined will provide a campus feel for large groups or multiple groups coming together.

In the heart of Seattle’s retail district and within walking distance of the iconic Pike Place Market, Summit will connect some of Seattle’s most unique and vibrant neighborhoods. Delegates will be able to look out at panoramic views of the Puget Sound and the Seattle cityscape. In addition, the outdoor terrace is available to planners for receptions, cocktail parties, and other private events.

Seattle Center

The $1.7 billion project will provide a host of economic benefits, including as much as $219 million annually in visitor spending, as many as 3,900 direct and indirect jobs, and some 6,000 jobs during construction. The Summit building will also expand the WSCC’s public art program, which celebrates Seattle’s cultural history and features Northwest artists as part of the building’s design.

“In 2024, we anticipate that we will have over 7,500 participants,” Gordon says. “The Summit building will be the perfect place to welcome our members for the world’s largest student affairs educators conference.”

Header image – Photo Credit Nick Hall Photography / Visit Seattle
The Summit Rendering – Rendering Credit LMN Architects
Seattle Center – Photo Credit Nick Hall Photography / Visit Seattle

 

 

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