September 2025 Project of The Month: Seattle Convention Center | Summit
The Seattle Convention Center expanded in 2023 with the opening of its new Summit building, a LEED Platinum-certified space located right across the street from the Paramount Theatre and is only a block and a half away from the Arch. With hundreds of thousands of square feet of event space, 62 meeting rooms, an outdoor garden terrace, and a full ballroom, Summit is the ultimate gathering space in the heart of downtown.
As North America’s first high-rise convention center, Summit was designed to embody the spirit of the Pacific Northwest, from sustainable features such as a rainwater harvesting system to its use of mixed materials and reclaimed wood chandeliers.
In keeping with the building’s local character, all four of these storefronts along Pine Street are home to locally owned businesses. We had the opportunity to partner with these businesses, creating clear, cohesive, and visually striking signage that helps each one stand out while enhancing the overall Summit experience.
Chef Ethan Stowell's Bombo Italian Kitchen offers house-made pasta and oven-baked pizzas made with seasonal Pacific Northwest ingredients. The expansive layout includes the main restaurant, two bars, and seating for nearly 200 guests, making Bombo a destination for lovers of traditional Italian fare. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available.
Our sign package with Bombo included twelve signs to guide and attract guests. Located on the corner of Pine and 9th, Bombo features several custom-fabricated signs. Facing Pine Street, an LED-illuminated blade sign, neon channel letter canopy sign, and entry door vinyl. Facing 9th, four signs, including an interior neon window sign, window vinyl, an exterior neon under-canopy sign, and another LED-illuminated blade sign. Inside Summit, we installed two interior neon signs, one with channel letters of their logo and a blade sign above the entrance to The Bar at Bombo. The variety of materials and lighting solutions perfectly complements the architecture of Summit, blending modern and classic Seattle design.
Just down the block is Olga Sagan’s Piroshky Piroshky, a beloved Seattle staple that’s been serving Eastern European hand pies at Pike Place Market since 1992. This fifth location carries on the tradition, incorporating local ingredients in their time-honored recipes and is the perfect quick stop before or after a show at the Paramount.
We crafted their exterior double-sided LED illuminated blade sign in their iconic yellow and red, using clear push-thru acrylic with vinyl detailing to match the recognizable branding.
Tucked in the middle of Pine Street is Monorail Espresso, originally founded in 1980 by Chuck and Susie Beek, the pioneers of Seattle’s first espresso cart at the downtown entrance of the Monorail. Now a women-owned business under Aimee Peck since 2012, Monorail Espresso has grown to four locations, including this Summit walk-up window.
This particular spot offers a fun, unique outdoor setup that is an ideal spot to grab coffee with colleagues or friends between events. For this location, we fabricated a custom double-sided under canopy sign with an aluminum upper fin detail, vinyl accents, and is illuminated by white neon.
Finally, next to Monorail Espresso is the Pike Taproom from Seattle’s popular Pike Brewing. Founded in 1989 next to Pike Place Market, Pike Brewing has been known for its commitment to craft beer and locally sourced ingredients. This third location at Summit continues that legacy, offering gourmet hot dogs alongside a strong sense of community.
We created two key signs for Pike Brewing, an interior neon wall sign above the bar, featuring a routed clear acrylic back panel, coated ruby neon with vinyl backing and a white neon border. The exterior neon-illuminated sign is double-sided, displaying their logo with matching red neon to the interior sign.
It has been a true privilege to contribute to such a landmark project, which brings together local flavor, thoughtful design, and community spirit under one roof. Helping these homegrown businesses stand out within such a vibrant new space has been an honor, and we’re proud to play a part in shaping Summit’s story.
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