Cray Computer’s Seattle division leased 54,000 sq ft at 901 5th Avenue to accommodate its engineering, design, and testing of cooling systems for their supercomputers, with the goal of creating an office environment to attract and maintain the highest-quality employees.
The improvements included a design/testing lab that pushes computer cooling requirements to the limit. The state-of-the-art lab is supported by redundant 20-ton testing-system cooling units and cooling manifolds. With the increased load on the building systems from the lab, the building required an additional cooling tower, water loop, power, and backup generator. The engineers enjoy one of the most unique views of Seattle as their full glass wall seems to float over Fourth Avenue.
Marvin Yamaguchi achieved Cray’s vision of a lab space that would foster advances in their technology while providing an office component to make a media firm proud. Gateway delivered the project on time and under budget.
Client | Cray Computer |
Architect | mYamaguchi Architects |
Type | Office |
Size | 54,200 SF |
Location | 901 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA |
Year | 2008 |





