New Digs: Life on the Waterfront

Evening sunsets from the office can be spectacular.

After nearly a decade at the Skinner Building, Union Street Corporate Real Estate, LLC has moved its offices down to the city's waterfront into the Market Square Building. Market Square is located on the west end of Union Street sandwiched between Western Avenue and Alaskan Way.

In contrast to the east end of Union Street, the waterfront and Pike Place Market are full of energy and action.

In today's office environment, amenities are one of the most important factors to consider when locating a business. Employees have to have somewhere that they want to be. The number one amenity for me (Derek) of course, is the proximity to the Seattle Aquarium and its new Ocean Pavilion. After 15 years of volunteer SCUBA diving in the "Pacific Coral Reef" (PCR) exhibit, I've moved over to the new "Reef" and "Archipelago: Mangrove" exhibits in the Ocean Pavilion. The PCR exhibit has been closed (it was the small, cool, lava tube tank on the main pier 59) with the tropical sea life being relocated to the new Ocean Pavilion (or the offsite Animal Care Center).

The 40+ year old, 7' deep PCR tank has been retired; but the 40+ year old volunteer diver has not.

It has been quite an upgrade diving in the 27' deep, half million gallon environment in the Reef when compared to the 7' deep 25,000 gallon tank at PCR.

My first dive in the "Reef" tank at Ocean Pavilion last summer.

The new office space itself is located on the west side of the 4th floor of the building, with incredible views of the Great Wheel, Elliott Bay, and the Seattle Aquarium. The 12' walls are all red brick, and the floors original car decking wood boards.

Tenant improvements included refinishing the wood flooring, piping in new HVAC, and new lighting.

A physical move for the office was a great opportunity to shed the old "stuff" and invest in new technology.

I encourage any clients or colleagues to come down to 1415 Western Avenue and check out the new digs and join me for either lunch on the waterfront or a quick tour of the Seattle Aquarium.

The view from this window used to be the side of the Alaskan Way Viaduct!