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Seattle has built its reputation on innovation. Over the years, this city has played host to companies from Boeing to Microsoft to Amazon – and has attracted the architectural innovation to match. In the last ten years especially, striking new skyscrapers have risen up all across the city, demonstrating that when it comes to creativity, Seattle is here to stay.

Before-and-After Photos Showcase The Emerald City’s Skyward Growth

We’ve peered back into the past, with help from Google’s Street View, to watch these architectural adventures unfold right before our eyes – and yours. Join us for a quick look at some of Seattle’s most noteworthy real estate developments – mostly concentrated on the city’s downtown waterfront – that were completed sometime in the last 8 years.

Simply drag the arrow bar back-and-forth to view the old and the new images.

1. Amazon Tower I, West 8th, and Cirrus – Belltown

Belltown is packed with hip restaurants, quirky shops, and exciting nightlife – and now it’s also home to three striking new skyscrapers. The gleaming glass facade of Amazon Tower I provides a home for Amazon.com’s headquarters; this 37-story building offers not only office space, but also retail and dining areas. West 8th offers open-plan interior spaces for offices and restaurants, as well as a large outdoor garden terrace. And the bold contemporary design of Cirrus contains luxury residential spaces, from studios to two-bedrooms, with sweeping views of the city.

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2. 1918 Eighth Avenue, 818 Stewart, Cirrus, and West 8th – Belltown

On 8th Avenue, the tower at 1918 dominates this cluster of skyscrapers. This 36-floor behemoth houses prestigious law firms, as well as the offices of many Amazon.com employees. Next to 1918 stands 818 Stewart, an office building that features spacious floor plans overlooking the bustle of Belltown. Nearby, the Cirrus and West 8th buildings lend their own elegance to the block, and provide even more retail and residential spaces for Belltown’s young professionals.

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3. Insignia Seattle Towers – Belltown

Rising within view of the Space Needle, the Insignia presents a sleek exterior of cool blues accented by warm browns. The tower houses a wide range of elite residential spaces, from one-bedrooms in the 1,200-square-foot range, all the way up to three-bedrooms of more than 2,100 square feet. And with access to resort-style amenities like an indoor pool, spa, and fitness studio, residents can live the good life within easy reach of some of Seattle’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

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4. Aspira, hill7, and Hilton Garden Inn – Belltown

The corner of Boren Avenue and Stewart Street offers a view of three buildings that seem to be made for each other: Aspira, hill7, and the Hilton Garden Inn. All three of these steel-and-glass structures complement each other with their futuristic exteriors – Aspira offering a range of luxury apartments, hill7 providing sunlit office spaces and conference facilities, and the Hilton featuring spacious rooms and amenities like an indoor pool and fitness center.

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5. Escala Midtown – Belltown

The soothing blue-green glass and bone-white accents of Escala offer an intriguing contrast with the warm comfort of its interior spaces. Featuring a wide range of residential spaces – including a 5,100-square-foot penthouse overlooking the Bay – this building also offers residents a 24-hour concierge, a furnished courtyard, a private theater, and even a wine cave; all right at the heart of Belltown’s shopping, dining, and nightlife.

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6. Dimension and Alto Apartments – Belltown

Both these striking contemporary structures lend a touch of creativity to this stretch of 3rd Avenue. Dimension offers luxury residences ranging from 451-square-foot studios to 970-square-foot two-bedrooms, many with sweeping views of Puget Sound and the Cascades. Alto Apartments, meanwhile, offers apartments in a similar range of sizes, all with access to a 4,000-square-foot rooftop deck overlooking the city.

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7. Olive 8, The Olivian, and Premiere on Pine – Central Business District

Rising impressively above Olive Way, this cluster of three skyscrapers showcases some of Seattle’s most innovative architectural styles. Olive 8 is a 39-story tower featuring the Hyatt Hotel along with a variety of other residential and retail spaces. The Olivian apartments include one- and two-bedrooms from 769 to 2,042 square feet, designed around a “curve” principle of interior space. And the 440-foot-tall Premiere on Pine catches the eye with its artistic red-and-blue facade.

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8. Cielo – First Hill

With its bright reds and gleaming bluish glass, the Cielo tower stands as the center of attention on Seneca Street. This skyscraper features studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, all with expansive views of Downtown Seattle – plus access to a 24-hour concierge, a catering kitchen, a wine bar, a spacious outdoor deck for dining and entertaining, and with a world of shopping and dining options within easy walking distance.

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9. Skyline At First Hill, Terraces at Skyline, and Frederic Ozanam House – First Hill

First Hill has long been a cosmopolitan neighborhood, bringing together Seattle’s older and younger generations, and those from all walks of life. These three buildings attest to that diversity – the luxury assisted-living residences of Skyline, the retirement community of the Terraces, and the housing assistance hub of Frederic Ozanam House. All three of these modern towers stand proudly over the neighborhood, every bit as elegant and imposing as the office buildings downtown.

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10. The Wave – Pioneer Square

When it comes to original, creative architectural statements, The Wave stands out even in such a vibrant city as Seattle. This playful skyscraper hints at the fun residents can enjoy, both within its 26 floors of elite apartments, and at nearby Quest Field and the Waterfront. Its apartments feature wall-sized windows overlooking historic Pioneer Square and Downtown, and sit within easy walking distance from a host of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

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11. Fifteen Twenty – One Second – Pike Place Market

With its captivating views of Elliott Bay, Pike Place Market brings together farmers, artists, shoppers, and a diverse group of other curiosity seekers. Rising above the excitement, Fifteen Twenty-One places relaxation and comfort within reach of one of Seattle’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Residents of these spacious two-bedroom residences have a 24-hour concierge on call, and can lay back on rooftop terraces to watch the sun set over the Bay.

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12. Viktoria Apartments – Pike Place Market

Amid the hustle and bustle of Pike Place Market, the eye-catching whites, reds, and blues of the Viktoria tower call the architecture of old Seattle to mind, while also hinting at a more innovative future. This tower holds a diverse range of residences, from 499-square-foot studios all the way up to 1,205-square-foot two-bedrooms – all with access to a rooftop lounge, a gourmet kitchen and wine bar, and panoramic views of some of Seattle’s most classic neighborhoods.

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We didn’t forget about your favorite new building on the Seattle skyline, did we? If we did, let us know! Send us your own photos and comments, and they might just pop up in a future article here on RENTCafe!

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