The New Richmond Hotel, Seattle
historic place
The New Richmond Hotel, a historic place in King County, Seattle, Washington, was constructed in 1911. This nine-story, Neoclassical Revival-style building was completed in a remarkable six months. It was designed by the Seattle architects Édouard Champney and Augustus Gould, and stands as the best surviving example of their brief partnership. The hotel was developed by R. A. McCormick, a Seattle real estate developer. It catered to travelers arriving at the nearby Union Station and King Street Station. Advertisements called it 'one of Seattle's largest and best priced hotels.' The New Richmond Hotel was notable for its plumbing, offering more rooms with baths than any other Seattle hotel at the time. Its lobby featured Alaska marble, mahogany, and an art glass ceiling. Throughout the 1910s, 20s, and 30s, the hotel hosted numerous events and meetings. In March 1943, the U.S. Army converted the building into a hospital and military family housing. After a period of decline in the 1960s, the building was rehabilitated in 1970 into 240 apartments, now known as the Downtowner, providing housing for low-income residents. The New Richmond Hotel represents an important era of Seattle's early 20th-century development and architectural innovation.