Built on a sloping lot with the foundation of a large granite base, the building rises 17 stories above the city.

It is notable as one of the first post-World War II private office buildings in the city and among the first in the country to use pre-stressed concrete construction.

[4] Furthermore, its Modernism contrasts with the neighboring Exchange Building which is in the Art Deco style.

[1] The Norton Building has housed multiple tenants including LMN Architects, the Puget Sound Business Journal,[7] and Pacific Northern Airlines.

[8] The building's 17th floor was also home to the member-only Harbor Club, which peaked at 1,000 members in the 1990s and closed on December 31, 2015.