Recognizable rooftops

At 62 stories, it was the tallest skyscraper built in Seattle in the 1990’s. Deemed one of the cornerstones of City of Seattle’s Civic Center campus, the building was designed by Bassetti Architects with KG Construction as the general contractor. With UMC as the mechanical contractor, the 240,000-square-foot office and retail tower was built with high-efficiency mechanical systems. Each floor had its own air handling unit to ensure the highest air quality throughout. It had 2,007 tons of chilling capacity and a special “depluming” cycle that reduced condensation from the cooling tower. Variable speed drives controlled most of the water pumping operations. The integration of the building’s direct digital controls (DDC) and life safety system was fully controlled by the Energy Management System. The mechanical systems were controlled by a DDC system that monitored off-hour energy use. The AT&T Gateway Tower was a Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and WA State Energy Office “Energy Edge Award” winner. Construction began in 1987, not long after UMC completed the Columbia Center building, Seattle’s tallest tower. Still today, the former “AT&T Gateway Tower” showcases the post-modern style of architecture and features a distinctive five-story rooftop that is recognizable in the Seattle skyline.