It's official: Seattle's 'Sinking Ship' garage now the 'Coolest Parking Spot in America'

SEATTLE (KOMO) — Seattle's quirky "Sinking Ship" parking garage in Pioneer Square has won the contest to be crowned the "Coolest parking spot in the United States."

The contest was created by architecture and design publication Architizer and airport parking site Looking4.com out of London. They nominated 10 garages across the U.S. based on factors including sustainability, historical elements and artistic design.

Sinking Ship garnered 30% of all the votes, making it the top choice among those who voted, according to spokesperson Lydia Russo. It edged out the nearly century-old Michigan Theater garage which had just over 27% of the vote.

The Helix Garage in Lexington, Kentucky came in third.

"After the historic Seattle Hotel was demolished in the ‘60s, the iconic Sinking Ship parking garage rose in its place," the contest's authors wrote. "This architectural feat plays with the natural hills in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood to create the illusion of a sinking ship. Though there was pushback at the time of the Seattle Hotel’s demolition, Seattleites have come to love this quirky addition to their city and with this parking garage being built on the bones of the classic 1890s hotel, there are even rumors of the site being haunted."

It's the second time the garage has been recognized by the agencies as among the best. Last summer, they chose 10 parking garages from around the world to honor -- Seattle's "Sinking Ship" the lone American contender -- and let readers choose their favorite. "Sinking Ship" came in 4th.

The looming structure at 2nd and Yesler was designed by Mandeveille and Berge and built in 1961.

"With its unique form and position along the street’s slope causing it to closely resemble the bow of a boat, the Sinking Ship is an iconic site in Seattle," the authors wrote for the Emerald City's entry.

Gudmund Berge, who was the founding partner, just passed away at 91 on June 20, 2018, days before our original story last year on the international contest was posted.

One of his sons who read our story contacted us to let us know of his father, who grew up around Seattle and had lived on Mercer Island for years.

"I thought everyone in Seattle might like to know this local born and raised architect loved the Seattle area and would chuckle and smile with pride knowing this project of his was getting this notoriety," Rolfe Berge told KOMO News last summer.