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Saturday, March 30: Colman Ferry Dock

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Rainier Tower

One of the neat things about working in the heart of downtown Seattle is that you are experiencing the growth of the city firsthand. One of the larger developments currently underway is the Rainier Square on Union St. between 4th and 5th Avenue. Demolition of the old Rainier Square building revealed the base of adjacent Rainier Tower in all its glory. Designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki (also the architect of IBM Building and Pacific Science Building in Seattle, and of course the original World Trade Center), this building has fascinated me since the first time I saw it due to its unusual inverted tapered curving base. Since I work only a block away, I've been witnessing the 'unveiling' process of the tower base as the adjacent building went down brick by brick.

I figured that this view will not last, since a new tower will soon be built right next to it. I decided to do a couple of quick sketches from two different angles. The first one was taken from 5th Avenue between Union and Pike st. looking south.

Rainier Tower, sketched from 5th Avenue between Union and Pike looking south

Rainier Tower, sketched from 5th Ave looking south

 A couple of days later, I stood at a corner of Union st. and 4th Ave and sketched the tower from a slightly different angle.

Rainier Tower, sketched from 4th Ave between Union and Pike looking south


Rainier Tower, sketched from 4th Ave looking south



3 comments:

  1. Bravo -- these are great sketches of a rapidly changing corner! I better get over there soon if I want to sketch this scene, too. (I've always been nervous that that building would topple over someday. ;-) )

    - Tina

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  2. Thanks, Tina. I'd say yes, come visit and sketch while the scene is fresh :) Andika

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  3. Thanks, Tina. I'd say yes, come visit and sketch while the scene is fresh :).
    Andika

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