Downtown Preview
DSA’s Downtown Preview event and networking series reconnects you to the city center and each other. The exclusive series highlight the projects, places and people reshaping and revitalizing downtown — with special early or unique access for DSA members and MID ratepayers.
Past Events
December 2024: WeRise Wine Bar
Our final Downtown Preview of 2024 took place at WeRise Wines in Belltown on Dec. 17. Guests enjoyed delicious wine, food and were able to hear from CEO Jamila Conley, who discussed how WeRise Wines — a DSA member — is blending unique wines with a commitment to inclusivity and social justice. Every glass tells a story of perseverance and passion as WeRise celebrates the diversity of winemakers from around the world. The space also features a dedicated event area perfect for a range of corporate meetings.
Conley said one of her goals was to create a space that is welcoming to people no matter where they are on their wine journey.
WeRise held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 18.
December 2024: Tomb Raider Experience
Our exclusive Downtown Preview series continued in December inside downtown’s brand-new, immersive experience: Tomb Raider: Escape from the Temple of Fire.
DSA members had a special opportunity to tour the new downtown attraction, located near the waterfront, and hear from Seth Wolfson, owner and creative director of Hourglass Attractions, which brought the experience to Seattle. Members were able to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the escape room (one of the largest in the country) and hear the voice of Lara Croft.
August 2024: Gage Academy of Art
Gage Academy of Art is now open in their brand new 14,000-square-foot location in the Denny Regrade. The nonprofit fine art school recently moved from Capitol Hill into vacant street-level retail space on the Amazon campus, bringing art to downtown in an innovative and accessible way for youth and adults. Attendees heard from Gage leaders, including Executive Director Kathleen Allen and Board President Erik Haroldson, about their mission and decision to relocate downtown. And Shannon Loew, vice president of Global Corporate Real Estate and Facilities at Amazon shared the importance of community. Guests also toured the art studio and classrooms spanning two floors designed by DSA member NBBJ.
July 2024: Inside Washington Park
The newly renovated Washington Park building in Pioneer Square sits adjacent to the rapidly evolving Seattle waterfront. Originally constructed after the Great Seattle Fire, the former turn-of-the-century building has been redeveloped by DSA member Unico Properties into a roughly 52,000-square-foot commercial office project with ground-floor retail.
On Aug. 1 DSA members got a look inside the newly renovated building and enjoyed networking, tours, unobstructed views and refreshments. They also heard from DSA President & CEO Jon Scholes; Dugan Earl with Unico Properties; Kate Weiland with BuildingWork; and Molly Moon, founder and CEO of Molly Moon’s Ice Cream, which will open across from the building in 2025.
May 2024: Inside Washington 1000
Located in downtown’s Denny Triangle neighborhood, Washington 1000 is the latest development from DSA member Hudson Pacific Properties. The building features an innovative ground-floor bike café with showers and lockers, a hospitality-style lobby with several areas to gather and collaborate and expansive outdoor areas, including a dog park. Our May preview event offered an early look at this new building and a chance to hear from the company’s Vice President of Development & Construction.
April 2024: A New Angle on the City
One of the most recent additions to downtown’s residential mix is the Skyglass Apartments in South Lake Union. The new 31-story, 338-unit faceted glass tower is inspired by stacked magazines and designed to capture Seattle’s changing light as it undulates and changes form. Attendees of our March Preview toured this unique building and heard from the DSA member companies involved in its development over a networking happy hour format.
February 2024: Inside the New Dexter Yard
Dexter Yard is a new open block campus in South Lake Union developed by DSA member BioMed Realty. The two-tower property is a recent entry into the neighborhood’s life sciences hub, offering lab and office space and amenities including a field house, beer hall and rooftop deck. At our February Preview event, attendees got an inside look at this innovative downtown development designed to connect tenants with neighbors and the community.
December 2023: Behind the Curtain at SIFF Cinema
SIFF Cinema Downtown opened in December 2023, after a three-year closure. At our December Preview, DSA members got a sneak peek at renovations, a behind-the-scenes tour and, of course, some chocolate popcorn. SIFF Executive Director Tom Mara, Artistic Director Beth Barrett, and Associate Director of Festivals and Events Carley Callahan offered a brief history of the venue, an explanation of the iconic theater’s amazing AV and a preview of what’s to come.
November 2023: The Office of the Future
Attendees of our November Preview got a peek inside the “office of the future” at Gensler Architects Seattle. The $2.6 million workplace renovation in Park Place is designed for ultimate flexibility and ongoing evolution. Gensler’s co-managing directors and principals Ryan Haines and Kristin Jensen joined the event to share their new office concept and provide tours.
October 2023: A Deep Dive on Lid I-5
Guests of our October event got a deep dive on the monumental initiative to connect downtown’s core with adjacent neighborhoods: Lid I-5. In October 2023, the plan received a major boost as the Seattle City Council passed a resolution to endorse it. Guest speakers included Jack Cebe, development manager with Central Atlanta Progress, Jesse Canedo, chief economic development officer for the city of Bellevue, state Senator Jamie Pedersen and Scott Bonjukian, co-chair of Seattle’s Lid I-5 effort.
August 2023: Inside Cedar Hall with EQ Office
Our August Downtown Preview treated attendees to a special tour of Cedar Hall, a brand-new hospitality experience at the base of the 44-story U.S. Bank Center. Cedar Hall, which comprises the tower’s three-story lobby and entry levels, was designed as a communal meeting place for art, culture and retail. Zach Zaborowski, EQ’s senior vice president and Pacific Northwest, provided insights on the recently completed project and lead a short tour.
June 2023: Inside the Coliseum Theater with XO Seattle
More than 100 attendees joined our preview of XO23 — a temporary, contemporary art gallery in the renovated historic Coliseum Theater — in the former site of Banana Republic. The work of 60-plus artists will be on display in this landmark building through year-end. XO founders also co-created last summer’s popular art show with Forest For The Trees in Pioneer Square.