Seattle Condo Authority Network • Downtown
Seattle's landmark luxury condominium at 1920 4th Ave. 31 stories, 269 residences, full-service amenities including 24-hour concierge, indoor pool, and wine cellar.
Building Profile
| Building Name | Escala |
| Address | 1920 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 |
| Year Built | 2009 |
| Total Units | 269 |
| Stories | 31 |
| Neighborhood | Downtown, Seattle, WA |
| HOA Fees | $900–$2,500/mo (est.) |
| Price Range | $600K–$3.5M |
| Rental Policy | Rental Cap |
| Building Website | condosatescala.com |
About This Building
Escala stands at 1920 4th Avenue as one of Seattle's defining luxury condominium towers. The 31-story building was completed in 2009 by Wood Partners and designed to deliver a hotel-quality residential experience in the heart of Downtown Seattle.
The building's 269 residences feature Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and high-end finish packages. Upper floors deliver expansive views of Elliott Bay, the Olympic Mountains, and the Downtown skyline.
Common amenities include a 24-hour concierge desk, an indoor lap pool and spa, a fully equipped fitness center, a private screening room, a wine cellar, and a private dining room available for resident use. The building's Walk Score of 99 places it in Seattle's most walkable urban environment.
Escala carries a rental cap, meaning HOA approval is required to rent a unit. The building's mature reserve fund and established resale history make it a benchmark asset in Seattle's luxury condo market. Jeff Reynolds has deep expertise in Escala's resale data, floor plan values, and current inventory.
Buyer Analysis
Jeff Reynolds has tracked every sale at Escala since 2009. Here is his direct assessment of the building's strengths, key cautions, and the questions every buyer should ask before writing an offer.
Escala is one of Seattle's most recognizable luxury buildings. A trophy address commands premium buyer demand through market cycles—a meaningful advantage when it's time to sell.
24-hour concierge, indoor lap pool, wine cellar, screening room, private dining room, and fitness center. Hotel-quality service without the cost of a hotel suite.
15+ years of reserve contributions since 2009 delivery means the HOA financial position is fully documented. Buyers can verify actual reserve performance, not just projections.
Steps from Pike Place Market, Seattle Art Museum, the waterfront, and the Downtown retail core. Location quality at this level insulates long-term value through market cycles.
HOA fees of $900–$2,500/month are among Seattle's highest. Model your total carrying cost carefully and confirm what is included vs. separately billed before committing.
Escala limits the percentage of units that can be rented. Buyers who want rental flexibility must verify current cap availability and waitlist status before writing an offer—rental approval is not guaranteed.
Request the most recent reserve study. What is the current percent-funded level and what major capital projects are projected in the next 5–10 years?
If lifestyle flexibility or investment use matters, ask Jeff for the current HOA rental cap utilization and estimated waitlist timeline before you commit.
Escala has 269 units across 31 floors with meaningful variation in views, size, and finish level. Ask Jeff which specific floor plans and orientations have the strongest resale track record.
Advisory
Escala serves a specific buyer type: someone for whom building quality, address prestige, and full-service amenities are the primary purchase criteria. The following profiles describe who tends to thrive here.
Escala sits within walking distance of Seattle's law firms, financial institutions, and major corporate headquarters. Buyers whose daily professional life is centered in Downtown Seattle typically find Escala's location eliminates the friction of commuting while adding the lifestyle of a full-service building.
The amenity stack at Escala—24-hour concierge, indoor lap pool, wine cellar, screening room, private dining room—is calibrated for buyers who have lived in luxury buildings before and know exactly what they expect. Buyers who prioritize curated building services over maximum square footage consistently rank Escala's amenity depth as exceptional.
Buyers transitioning from large single-family homes often find that Escala's service model converts the experience of downsizing into a lifestyle upgrade. The building's trophy status and mature resale history also make it a strong long-term hold for buyers who intend to own for 10 or more years.
The rental cap limits investment flexibility, but Escala's consistent demand from incoming executives and professionals creates a reliable rental pipeline for owners who operate within the HOA's framework. Buyers who are patient and willing to work within the cap structure can hold a premium asset with durable long-term demand.
Market Data
Escala is one of Seattle's most actively traded luxury condo buildings, with a broad range of pricing driven by floor level, unit size, and view orientation. Pricing reflects the building's trophy status and full-service amenity model.
Entry-level residences on lower to mid floors. Pricing within this range varies by finish level and whether the unit has been renovated since the 2009 delivery.
Mid-tier residences represent the broadest segment of Escala's resale market. Floor level and view orientation—Elliott Bay vs. city-facing—drive meaningful spread within this range.
High-floor residences with direct Elliott Bay, Olympic Mountain, or panoramic city views. Full-floor penthouses and signature floor plans sit at the top of this range.
Escala's resale market has been among the most consistent in Seattle's luxury tier. The building's 2009 vintage means it has traded through multiple full market cycles, providing buyers with reliable comparable sales data. Larger units with unobstructed Elliott Bay views have historically held value best through market softening periods. Prices shown are general market ranges; contact Jeff Reynolds for current listing and recent closed sale data.
Knowledge Base
Before buying any Seattle condo, these guides answer the questions every buyer should resolve about HOA finances, financing eligibility, and closing requirements.
What condo HOA fees cover, how they're calculated, and what to look for in a building's fee structure.
How reserve funds work, what percent-funded means, and why the reserve study matters before you buy.
How rental caps, owner-occupancy ratios, and HOA delinquency rates affect your loan eligibility.
What the resale certificate contains, why it matters, and the key red flags buyers should watch for.
Explore More
Other condos in Downtown Seattle at a similar price tier, with links to full building profiles, buyer analysis, and current market data.
See all buildings: Browse all Downtown Seattle condo buildings →
Frequently Asked Questions
Escala is a 31-story luxury condominium tower at 1920 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101, at the corner of 4th Avenue and Virginia Street in Downtown Seattle. The building occupies a premier position walking distance from Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum, the Downtown retail core, and the waterfront. Walk Score: 99.
Escala has 269 residences across 31 floors, completed in 2009. Floor plans range from one-bedroom residences to full-floor penthouses. Units feature premium finishes, Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, floor-to-ceiling windows, and private balconies on most floors. Contact Jeff Reynolds for current inventory and floor plan availability.
Escala was completed in 2009. The building is part of Seattle's luxury condo construction era and has fully matured HOA reserves, offering buyers financial predictability and a proven resale record. The 2009 vintage places Escala in the 2000–2009 era of Seattle condo development.
HOA fees at Escala range from approximately $900 to $2,500 per month depending on unit size and floor. This reflects a full-service amenity package: 24-hour concierge, indoor lap pool, screening room, wine cellar, private dining room, and fitness center. Contact Jeff Reynolds for the current fee schedule and reserve fund status.
Yes, Escala operates under a rental cap that restricts the percentage of units that can be rented at any time. Buyers intending to lease their unit should verify the current rental availability and HOA waitlist before purchase. The rental cap also affects FHA and some conventional loan eligibility. Jeff Reynolds can pull the current rental concentration data before you make an offer.
Your Downtown Condo Specialist
Jeff Reynolds is Seattle's leading specialist in urban condominiums, with deep expertise in Escala and every building in the Seattle Condo Authority Network. If you're buying or selling at Escala, Jeff has the data, the relationships, and the track record to represent you.
Jeff tracks every sale at Escala, maintains HOA financial data, and knows which floor plans and view orientations hold value best. This depth of building-level knowledge is what separates a specialist from a generalist.
Jeff Reynolds • Seattle Condo Authority Network • jeff.reynolds@compass.com
Current listings, recent sales, HOA financials, and buyer strategy. No obligation.