The project enabled WaMu, once downtown Seattle's largest private employer, to keep thousands of employees in downtown Seattle in consolidated facilities, while enabling one of the region's treasured cultural institutions to realize its long-term expansion program. The project also provides additional much-needed parking for Benaroya Hall, the Pike Place Market, and other neighbors on evenings and weekends.

In one of the most innovative aspects of this complex project, SAM will occupy its 12 floors gradually, as it is ready to expand. SAM initially is occupying four new floors of public and gallery space connected to its current facility. Ultimately, SAM will triple in size, as it takes down the remainder of the space in increments over time.