Washington State Convention Center: Summit Building Expansion

Challenge: Safely Engineer a Centerpiece for the Future of Seattle

In 2018, the City of Seattle undertook a major project to expand and upgrade the Washington State Convention Center to accommodate a growing demand for convention and exhibition space in the area, bolster the local and regional economy and enhance the city’s ability to offer significant cultural events for the community.

The project called for the construction of the new Summit Building, featuring a sleek and modern steel and glass design. With 62 meeting rooms, a 58,000-square-foot column-free and divisible ballroom, 248,450 square feet of exhibit space, 140,700 square feet of naturally lit lobby space and a 14,000-square-foot outdoor garden terrace, the massive structure had to meet stringent building codes for strength and safety – of critical importance because of the project’s location within an active seismic zone.

Solution: Quality Assurance Inspection and Testing during Materials Fabrication

To ensure the project met the highest levels of quality and safety, TRC provided on-site structural steel quality assurance (QA) inspection solutions for all construction materials fabricated in Shanghai, China.

Our professional technicians are certified via Ultrasonic Testing (UT) AWS D 1.8, to support seismic requirements in steel welds. Our team completed fabrication inspection, nondestructive testing (NDT) and coating inspections for the structural steel required for the Summit Building construction. In addition, we also led site erection inspection for welding, high strength bolting and NDT. We played an integral role within the project’s QA team on-location during the fabrication process in China.

Result: Structural Stability and Economic Resilience

The Summit Building was unveiled to public in January 2023. Renowned for its resilient steel and glass design, this massive structure stands as a testament to structural excellence, safety and stability.

Expanding the convention center to include the Summit Building is a long-term investment in the Seattle’s future, securing the City’s reputation as a premier destination for conventions and events for years to come, while generating hotel stays, boosting local businesses and creating jobs that further stimulates the regional the economy.