[4] The building was designed by Minoru Yamasaki, who also was architect of Rainier Tower on the corner diagonally opposite, and the World Trade Center in New York City.

[5] Construction on the building began in May 1963 and it was completed in October 1964.

[6][7] Nard Jones wrote in 1972 that "There is an architectural poetry about [the building] that is at variance with the endless jibes at computerization and the alleged sober pragmatism of IBM personnel.

"[8] The building's crown has a series of 191 "fins" that measure 23 feet (7.0 m) tall and surround the machinery floors.

[9] The corner of the complex at 5th Avenue and University Street was the site of the Seattle Ice Arena from 1915 to 1963.