A Façade Renovation of the Seattle Center Armory Re-Centers a Community Space

For most Seattleites, the Seattle Center Armory has always been a part of the Seattle Center’s landscape. Throughout its 80 years, the Armory building has provided value to its community from its original function as military storage and as a National Guard training facility when it was built in 1939 to a world fair exhibition space in 1962 to its current use housing a community space, a theater, a high school, a children’s’ museum, and a food and events hall.

The Armory’s history demonstrates that unlike the disuse and disrepair that happens to many older buildings, the Armory has continued to serve the community over its lifetime. Receiving landmark status in 2010 and an extensive interior renovation in 2012 marked a shift toward re-centering the Armory’s role in the community. Principal Matt Aalfs notes that “by leading the Seattle Armory’s façade renovation, BuildingWork plays an important role in continuing the Armory’s identity as a community space.”

The Seattle Center Armory was built in 1939 to house the 146th Field Artillery and its half-ton tanks, it now serves as the “Center of the Center” as a hub for food and drinks, performance spaces, and a place to gather pre and post events.

Diagrams of the Armory’s façade show where changes will be made to the building during its upcoming renovation.

The Armory’s façade restoration also includes new signage to improve patron wayfinding and new canopies, lighting, and public entry doors to improve patron accessibility. This renovation brings new energy and focus to the Armory as a central hub — the “Center of the Center” — and a community gathering space throughout the day and pre and post events at the Seattle Center. In addition, the new lighting will highlight the Armory’s historic architecture after dark.

This project not only improves the historic character of the landmarked Armory building but also adapts the building and its accessways to better serve contemporary public use. Beginning with the 1962 Century 21 World’s Fair, the Seattle Center has provided access to arts, education, entertainment, and recreation. With the Seattle Center’s Century 21 Master Plan that includes the high-profile renovations of the Arena and the Space Needle and other campus redevelopment plans, the renovation of the Armory helps keep the Seattle Center at the center of the community into the next century.