Century 21-Washington State Coliseum
historic place
The Century 21-Washington State Coliseum, a historic place in Seattle, King County, Washington, opened in 1962. It was constructed between 1961 and 1962, specifically as the Washington State Pavilion for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, known as the Century 21 Exposition. Paul Thiry, the fair's chief architect, designed this building. During the exposition, it hosted the "World of Century 21" exhibit, also referred to as the "World of Tomorrow." Visitors experienced a unique journey through the future via the "Bubbleator," a transparent globe-shaped elevator. The Coliseum was notable for its innovative design, featuring a hyperbolic paraboloid roof structure. At the time of its construction, it was considered one of the largest clear-span structures in the world. From its initial planning, the intention was to convert it into a sports and convention facility after the fair. Following the fair, it was renamed the Washington State Coliseum, then the Seattle Center Coliseum, and later KeyArena in 1995. Today, it is known as Climate Pledge Arena. This site is historically significant for its architectural innovation and its central role in the 1962 World's Fair, which helped shape the Seattle Center campus.