Announcing Our Next Chapter with Planned Downtown Location

Birds Connect Seattle is annoucing an exciting new chapter in our 109-year history with a planned relocation to downtown Seattle at 616 Olive Way, in the historic Tower Building.  

This strategic move aligns with our core focus on urban conservation, environmental education, and community science by creating a more accessible hub to reach and engage a broader and more diverse audience.  

“After a thorough evaluation of the programming needs across our service area, employee well-being, and our vision for a future where both people and birds thrive together in cities, we determined that downtown was the ideal location,” said Claire Catania, Executive Director. 

Designed to inspire and engage, the new space will feature a welcoming entryway, conservation and educational exhibits, immersive storytelling areas, optics and gifts for purchase, and a community space for reflection and interaction. These elements will guide visitors from discovery to deeper engagement, fostering a stronger connection between people and birds. 

Additionally, relocating downtown presents valuable opportunities for Birds Connect Seattle to prioritize and expand its urban conservation advocacy efforts by placing the organization, and its administrative offices closer to key local and regional policymakers and decision-making networks.  

Anthony Floyd, Board President, highlighted this sharing, “The move will strengthen our ability to drive meaningful change in line with our long-term strategic goals by bringing our focus on urban conservation to a broader audience. At the same time, we’re planning initiatives to maintain connection with our long-time core members and bring an enhanced experience that was not possible in our beloved Wedgwood location.”  

The new headquarters will also enhance programming and opportunities for collaboration with other organizations, solidifying Birds Connect Seattle as a “true center for conservation, education, and advocacy,” said long-time member, Harvey Sadis. “Moving the headquarters to a more central location creates a greater opportunity to engage more people. I’m very excited about it.” 

Since 1916, Birds Connect Seattle has been at the forefront of protecting local bird populations and habitats. In 1996, the organization moved its headquarters from downtown in the Joshua Green building at 4th and Pike to a converted single-family home in the Wedgwood neighborhood, surrounded by a lush native-plant garden. There, Birds Connect Seattle cultivated a strong membership base of birders and conservation-minded individuals, many from the Wedgwood and greater North Seattle communities.  

“The Wedgwood community built the foundation that launched Birds Connect Seattle into the future. We are incredibly grateful for their contributions and for a legacy that will always be part of Birds Connect Seattle,” said Catania. “We look to our long-time supporters to help us spread our wings and attract even more people committed to minimizing threats to birds and protecting habitat.” 

Birds Connect Seattle sold our Wedgwood property in January 2025, placing a permanent conservation easement on the native plant garden and mature trees as part of the sale. We plan to open its new urban nest in the summer of 2025. More details, including specific programming plans, will be shared in the coming months.