Garden on the 17th Floor

While exploring some of the downtown districts in Seattle we had the opportunity to visit the Russell Investments roof garden at 1301 Second Avenue. This is a privately-owned garden on the seventeenth floor that is made available to the public during business hours.

Russell Investments rooftop garden on the 17th floor

You can bring lunch and eat outside with fantastic views of the city and the sound on three sides, or purchase lunch in the small cafeteria. When we visited, the cafeteria was closed and access to the garden was blocked for holiday maintenance, but we could still enjoy the views and garden design from within. The sun broke through after days of drizzly rain, so we were treated to very dramatic skies and lighting.

View of the sound from the rooftop garden

City view from the rooftop garden

The garden resembles a prairie or coastal scene with several “big bonsai” trees, golden grasses, low shrubs, and slate and wooden pathways. The sculpture of an abacus in steel and green glass is especially fitting for an investment company. The overall design calls to mind a modern interpretation of nature, using plants and materials from the Pacific Northwest. You can see this design in this aerial photo posted by Reed.

Roof garden design from above (posted by Reed)

We already have plans to visit the garden for lunch on our next trip in warmer weather. Roof gardens in urban centers help reduce heat emission from the roof, provide habitat for people and birds, and are a pleasure to view in an industrial setting. After our visit we headed over to Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya in Capitol Hill for conversation over delicious ramen noodles in steaming broth.