Seattle Central exploring possibility of moving some programs into Pac Med

Seattle Central Community College is proposing locating its Allied Health programs in Pacific Tower, the former hospital and Amazon headquarters building more commonly known as PacMed. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
New life may be coming to the mostly vacant PacMed building (Pacific Tower) on the northern tip of Beacon Hill. A neighbor at Seattle Central Community College forwarded us this memo from college President Paul T. Killpatrick:

As some of you may have heard, Seattle Community Colleges has been approached by area legislators and community members to consider leasing a portion of Pacific Tower on Beacon Hill. The Tower currently houses the Pacific Medical Center Beacon Hill Clinic on the first floor. The upper floors, formerly occupied by Amazon headquarters, are now empty. Initially, the District considered creating a district-wide program for the PacMed facility. When that did not look feasible, Seattle Central suggested consolidating our growing Allied Health programs in the Tower.

The College has proposed remodeling between 86,000 and 106,000 square feet of the Pacific Tower to house the College’s Allied Health programs, including Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Respiratory, Surgical Technology, and Opticianry. Renovation cost of the Pacific Tower is estimated to be approximately $27 million and the legislators have indicated they will seek funding for the lease and the renovations needed. Vacated space in our current buildings will be remodeled for much needed additional classrooms.

The Pacific Medical Center has expressed an interest in working with Seattle Central Community College to offer clinical training opportunities for Seattle Central’s Allied Health students at the Pacific Medical Beacon Hill Center and at eight other PacMed clinics in the region. Several other complimentary agencies and programs have also expressed interest in joining Seattle Central Community College to lease the remaining space in the Pacific Tower. These agencies include the Cross Cultural Health Program, NeighborCare, Neighborhood House, Philanthropy Northwest, 501 Commons, and Fare Start.

While this is an exciting opportunity for Seattle Central Community College, everything is contingent upon the Legislature approving the capital funding for this project. In addition, many details have yet to be worked out as this project involves several different agencies and partners. We will update the campus community with more information as it becomes available.

This is an interesting possibility for the much-loved landmark building, and for students at Seattle Central. The Allied Health program is a good fit with the historic and current uses of the building. Stay tuned for more information on this project.

9 thoughts on “Seattle Central exploring possibility of moving some programs into Pac Med”

  1. This is great news for North Beacon Hill, and a great addition as a medical center.
    Not only will we have the wonderful PacMed Clinic, but now other medical venues as well.
    Apparently there are restaurant facilities already there, a great possible addition for Fare Start.

    This is indeed can be a rebirth of this beautiful building and grounds for the use it was originally intended when built in 1932, the Marine Hospital. (great picture Wendi) L L

  2. The trolley is a big part of what makes this seem feasible to me, as it will make Pac Med much more accessible by transit from Capitol Hill and First Hill.

  3. Well the trolley may help, but if people are walking it is about a 1/2 mile walk over the bridge to PacMed. The # 60 and # 36 busses go from Jackson south and north as well.
    I noted that nearly all patients come by car . Which is best for those who may be too ill or incapacitated to walk any distance.
    Again ,all in all, it still is a plus to have the CCC occupying this historic building. Kudos to the PacMed Foundation in beautifully maintaining the building and grounds too.

  4. I’m with Lenny. I’m not sure why someone would bother getting on a trolley that drops you off with a bridge to cross versus the 60 or 36 bus that drops you off and picks you up at the front door. Regardless, I would expect that a good number of the students for this program would come from outside Seattle. That means riding a bus to the Downtown tunnel or riding light rail from south of Downtown like at Tukwila P&R. That would mean relying on a bus to get from the Beacon Hill or ID station.

  5. Yes Chris, and the Beacon station is a mile from PacMed,however those same #60 and #36 busses stop at PacMed on 12 th. Ave. So., again they stop nearly at the front door going south.

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