Washington State Convention and Trade Center - Seattle, Washington Seattle's Convention Center in Prime Location


The Washington State Convention and Trade Center or WSCTC is conveniently located in the heart of downtownSeattle, with on-site parking, business services and eateries. The Center is within easy walking distance of the city's best shops, sights, hotels and restaurants.

In the early 1980s, a group of community leaders from the public and private sectors conceived the notion of building a convention center in Seattle to foster new economic development. In 1982, with support of the state Legislature, a public non-profit corporation was established to acquire land and to design, construct, promote and operate the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. A site adjacent to, and over Interstate 5 was selected and initial construction began in the fall of 1985, and continued for nearly three years. The Center's first scheduled event took place on June 18, 1988.

The Convention Center, throughout its history, has exceeded the mandate of the Legislature to provide economic and civic benefits for the people of the state of Washington. These benefits have included a commitment to the building and renovation of affordable housing, historic preservation of significant structures and acquiring an extensive collection of public art.

WSCTC offers the option of working with a single point of contact to plan the specifics of any event. An Event Coordinator will review the Meeting Planner Checklist as you assemble your event information. Together you will plan telecommunications and technical requirements, lighting, plumbing and more. And WSCTC offers superior food and beverage services, from light breakfast snacks to reception, full-service meals.

The Convention Center operates two covered parking garages that adjoin each other and the Convention Center. The two parking garages can accommodate approximately 1,565 vehicles. Unlike most downtown parking garages located in the retail and theater district, Convention Center parking is located in close proximity to two I-5 exits and is accessible from the eastside of the freeway.

The Convention Center recently installed a new parking system that has dramatically improved the speed of exiting the parking garages. The new central cashier and stand alone express payment machines give customer's the choice of friendly outstanding customer service from our cashiers or, the quick transaction speed of the stand alone express payment machines.

Payment machines and cashier's accept major credit cards and cash. The Convention Center is one of the few parking garages that do not charge higher event rates for big events. The Convention Center daily rates are consistently on the low side of rate surveys of surrounding parking garages.

Shoppers and A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) patrons, have easy covered access. ACT and the parking garages are connected, there is no need to go out in the weather or wait at street lights. Shoppers can also go from the Convention Center through a walkway that goes to 4th Avenue's Rainer Tower, without stopping for traffic lights. This route is lined with retail shops.

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