Qualtrics Tower
{{Short description|High-rise office building in Seattle, Washington, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Qualtrics Tower
| logo =
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| image = Qualtrics Tower (2+U) from Elliott Bay - August 2019.jpg
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| image_caption = Under construction in August 2019
| former_names = 2+U (2&U)
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| status = Complete
| building_type = Office
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| location =
| address = 1201 2nd Avenue
Seattle, Washington
| coordinates = {{Coord|47|36|24.1|N|122|20|14.4|W|region:US-WA|display=inline,title}}
| map_type = Seattle WA Downtown
| map_caption = Location within downtown Seattle
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| groundbreaking_date =
| start_date = January 2017
| est_completion =
| topped_out_date = November 2018
| completion_date = 2020
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| cost = $392 million
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| height = {{convert|500|ft|m}}
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| floor_count = 37
| floor_area = {{convert|725,000|sqft|sqm}}
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| architecture_firm = Pickard Chilton
| developer = Skanska
| engineer =
| structural_engineer = Magnusson Klemencic Associates
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| main_contractor = Skanska
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| parking = 476 spaces
| website = {{url|http://2andu.com/|2andu.com}}
| embed =
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| references = {{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1246244/2-u-seattle-wa-usa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030234532/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1246244/2-u-seattle-wa-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2021-10-30 |title=Emporis building ID 1246244 |work=Emporis}}{{cite web |title=2+U, 670,000 Sqft |url=http://www.usa.skanska.com/business-units/commercial_development/commercial-development/2u/ |publisher=Skanska USA |access-date=February 3, 2017}}
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Qualtrics Tower, formerly known as 2+U and 2&U, is a high-rise office building in Downtown Seattle, Washington. The {{convert|500|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}}, 38-story tower is located at 2nd Avenue and University Street and was completed in 2020. The building has {{convert|725,000|sqft|sqm}} of leasable space, including retail and public spaces on the lower levels. The largest office tenant is Qualtrics, who also hold the naming rights to the building.
History
The project was originally announced as "2+U" in November 2014, after the signing of a lease agreement with Samis Foundation for their property at 2nd Avenue and University Street in Downtown Seattle.{{cite news |date=November 7, 2014 |title=Skanska plans office tower at Second and University |url=http://www.djc.com/news/re/12071703.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |access-date=February 3, 2017}}{{cite news |last=Bhatt |first=Sanjay |date=November 7, 2014 |title=Skanska plans downtown office tower on Samis block |page=A10 |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2024967177_skanskadealxml.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 3, 2017}} Developer Skanska selected Connecticut-based architecture firm Pickard Chilton to design the tower after a three-week "hack-a-thon" in which they competed with another firm, as opposed to a traditional request for proposals.{{cite news |last=Stiles |first=Marc |date=November 11, 2014 |title=Hack-a-thons: Now for architecture nerds and tech geeks |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2014/11/hack-a-thons-now-for-architecture-nerds-and-tech.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |access-date=February 3, 2017}} The leasing center for the project used Microsoft's HoloLens mixed reality technology to create a virtual tour for potential tenants.{{cite news |last=Bishop |first=Todd |date=April 5, 2016 |title=Seattle high-rise to use Microsoft HoloLens for 'world's first holographic leasing center' |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2016/seattle-high-rise-project-use-microsoft-hololens-worlds-first-holographic-leasing-center/ |work=GeekWire |access-date=February 3, 2017}}
The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections approved the design of the tower in December 2016.{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Brian |date=December 28, 2016 |title=Skanska's 2+U tower moves ahead toward starting construction in 2017 |url=http://www.djc.com/news/re/12096080.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |access-date=February 3, 2017}} An appeal from the owners of the 1201 Third Avenue tower against Skanska to prevent an alley vacation was dropped in January 2017, allowing for construction on the project to begin.{{cite news |last=Stiles |first=Marc |date=February 3, 2017 |title=With appeal settled, construction starts on 38-story office tower in downtown Seattle |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/02/03/with-appeal-settled-construction-starts-on-38.html |url-access=subscription |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |access-date=February 3, 2017}}{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Brian |date=February 6, 2017 |title=Alley appeal dropped, Skanska's 2+U tower now cleared to start |url=http://www.djc.com/news/re/12097241.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |access-date=February 6, 2017}} Work on the $392 million tower began the following month with the demolition of the Galland, Seneca and Friedman buildings, as well as a vacant playground.{{cite news |last=Stiles |first=Marc |date=February 10, 2017 |title=Why tower builder Skanska placed a $392 million bet in Seattle |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/02/10/skanska-2u-office-tower-seattle-spec-project.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 12, 2018}} The Diller Building, on the northwest corner of the block, was not included in the development and will remain under different ownership.{{cite news |date=January 25, 2016 |title=38-story office building planned |url=http://www.djc.com/news/ae/12085612.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |access-date=February 3, 2017}} Excavation of the tower's underground parking garage began in April 2017 and was completed in August, reaching a depth of {{convert|80|ft|m}} under 2nd Avenue.{{cite news |last=Stikes |first=Marc |date=August 31, 2017 |title=Here's the dirt on Skanska's 2+U tower rising in Seattle |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/08/31/skanska-2-plus-u-office-tower-construction.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 12, 2018}} The first major column, an {{convert|85|ft|m|adj=mid}} W-shaped steel piece, was installed in April 2018.{{cite news |date=April 4, 2018 |title=This 85-foot-tall 'W' is giving Skanska's 2+U legs to stand on |url=http://www.djc.com/news/co/12109861.html |url-access=subscription |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |access-date=April 4, 2018}} The tower was topped out in November 2018.{{cite news |date=November 14, 2018 |title=Skanska tops out 2+U at 2nd and University |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |url=http://www.djc.com/news/co/12116465.html |access-date=November 14, 2018}}
The building was renamed to the Qualtrics Tower in September 2019, after Qualtrics signed a {{convert|275,000|sqft|sqm|adj=mid}} office lease that will take up 13 stories.{{cite news |last=Garnick |first=Coral |date=September 25, 2019 |title=Confirmed: Qualtrics takes the final space in Skanska's new Seattle Tower |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/09/25/confirmed-qualtrics-skanska-2-u-tower.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 25, 2019}} Three workers were injured by an electrical incident on the ninth floor of the building while it was under construction in December 2019.{{cite news |date=December 17, 2019 |title=3 workers injured by flash burns at high-rise construction site in downtown Seattle |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/3-workers-injured-in-fire-at-under-construction-high-rise-in-downtown-seattle/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=December 17, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Stiles |first=Marc |date=December 17, 2019 |title=Three injured in fire at new 2+U skyscraper in Seattle |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/12/17/three-injured-in-fire-at-new-2-u-skyscraper-in.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |access-date=December 18, 2019}}
In November 2020, Skanska sold its stake in the building for $688 million to Hana Alternative Asset Management (part of the Hana Financial Group).{{cite news |last=Stiles |first=Marc |date=November 3, 2020 |title=Reports: South Korean group to pay $688M for new Seattle 2+U tower |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/11/03/2-u-will-sell-for-688m-to-south-korean-group.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |accessdate=February 22, 2021}} {{As of|January 2021}}, Qualtrics has not announced an opening date for their co-headquarters in the building due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |last=Bishop |first=Todd |date=January 28, 2021 |title=Qualtrics raises $1.55 billion in IPO, spinning out from SAP with plans to continue Seattle growth |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2021/qualtrics-raises-1-55-billion-ipo-spinning-sap-plans-continue-seattle-growth/ |work=GeekWire |accessdate=February 22, 2021}}
Design
The design of 2+U, conceived by Connecticut-based architecture firm Pickard Chilton, has been described as "dramatic" and "different" for elements at ground level. The tower will be supported by stilt-like "V" columns that rise {{convert|65 to 85|ft|m}} above street level.{{cite news |last=Enlow |first=Claire |date=November 12, 2015 |title=Design Perspectives: 2&U tower's design team attempts a heavy lift |url=http://www.djc.com/news/ae/12083543.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |access-date=February 3, 2017}}{{cite news |last=Newcomb |first=Tim |date=June 12, 2018 |title=These 165,000-Pound Columns Will Heft a 38-Story Tower 85 Feet Off the Ground |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a21286764/skanska-usa-2u-construction-seattle-pickard-chilton/ |work=Popular Mechanics |access-date=June 12, 2018}} The podium facing 1st Avenue will be 19 stories tall and include a landscaped rooftop deck. The main tower, rising 38 stories above street level, will have its own rooftop terrace and other amenities.
In September 2016, the Seattle City Council approved an alley vacation for the project, exchanging the loss of a through-alley for promised public amenities.{{cite web |author=Seattle City Council |author-link=Seattle City Council |date=September 26, 2016 |title=City of Seattle Record CF 314320 |url=http://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2400792&GUID=05E0584F-9394-45A4-8992-23C4B4CCC5AA&Options=&Search= |publisher=Office of the City Clerk of Seattle |access-date=February 3, 2017}} At the base of the tower will be a privately owned public space featuring an urban plaza with two stories of retail and restaurant space, public passageways and viewing platforms, public staircases with elevators to assist in hillclimbing, seating areas, and space for concerts and food trucks.{{cite news |last=Stiles |first=Marc |date=May 18, 2015 |title=Concert venue, cantina could be part of Seattle office high-rise |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2015/05/concert-venue-cantina-could-be-part-of-seattle.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |access-date=February 3, 2017}}{{cite web |date=January 21, 2016 |title=Approved Meeting Minutes, January 21, 2016: 1201 2nd Ave. |url=http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cityplanning/designcommission/cs/groups/pan/@pan/@designcommission/documents/web_informational/p2585242.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170130121026/http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cityplanning/designcommission/cs/groups/pan/@pan/@designcommission/documents/web_informational/p2585242.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |publisher=Seattle Design Commission |access-date=February 3, 2017 }}
Tenants
In 2018, employment search engine Indeed announced that it would occupy 10 floors of the tower, leasing a total of {{convert|200,000|sqft|sqm}} of space.{{cite news |date=December 19, 2018 |title=Indeed takes 10 floors in Skanska's 2+U tower |url=https://www.djc.com/news/re/12117536.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |url-access=subscription |access-date=December 19, 2018}} Spaces, a coworking subsidiary of IWG, planned to occupy three floors.{{cite news |date=December 20, 2018 |title=Skanska lands Spaces for 2+U |url=https://www.djc.com/news/re/12117575.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |access-date=December 21, 2018}} Video game developer Bungie occupies two floors that were originally leased by cloud storage service Dropbox, who opted to sublet and adopt remote working.{{cite news |last=Stiles |first=Marc |date=April 9, 2019 |title=Bay Area tech company the latest to expand in Seattle |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/04/09/bay-area-tech-company-the-latest-to-expand-to.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 10, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Stiles |first1=Marc |last2=Morgan |first2=Rick |date=September 27, 2021 |title=Bungie confirms it's opening a Seattle office in new tower |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2021/09/27/bungie-confirms-its-opening-a-seattle-office.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |accessdate=September 27, 2021}} The building was fully leased out in September 2019 with the signing of an agreement with experience management firm Qualtrics to lease 13 stories to accommodate 2,000 workers at its co-headquarters.{{cite news |last1=Levy |first1=Nat |last2=Bishop |first2=Todd |date=September 25, 2019 |title='Qualtrics Tower' coming to Seattle, with room for 2,000 people at tech company's 'co-headquarters' |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/qualtrics-tower-coming-seattle-room-2000-people-tech-companys-co-headquarters/ |work=GeekWire |access-date=September 25, 2019}}
The restaurant space was originally slated to be occupied by Tavolàta, an Italian restaurant operated by local chef Ethan Stowell. Tavolàta was replaced by a "tavern" eatery and bar that opened in July 2022.{{cite news |last=Thompson |first=Joey |date=May 31, 2022 |title=Opening date nears for Ethan Stowell restaurant at Seattle's 2+U tower |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2022/05/31/ethan-stowell-2-u.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |url-access=subscription |accessdate=March 3, 2024}}{{cite news |date=July 7, 2022 |title=The Victor Tavern now open at 2+U |url=https://www.djc.com/news/re/12149756.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |url-access=subscription |accessdate=March 3, 2024}} Other tenants in the ground level spaces include Caffe Ladro, a barber shop, and a furniture retailer.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Downtown Seattle}}
{{Seattle skyscrapers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2andU}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Downtown Seattle
Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Seattle