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The Hippodrome, its name taken from Greek for a horse and/or chariot racing facility, staged large-scale events. Many cities had large assembly halls with this name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the most famous being the Hippodrome in New York, NY (erected 1905). Seattle had two facilities called the Hippodrome in the 1910s. The Metropolitan Building Company built this low, large-scale, multi-purpose building at 5th Avenue and University Street by 1912. It served as a dance hall and as a space for banquets or meetings. This 5th and University Hippodrome had a small stage for performances. The other Hippodrome, called c. 1919 the "Palace Hippodrome," served as a prime theatrical venue in the city, featuring vaudeville programs. It was located on the southeast corner of 2nd Avenue and Spring Street.

This low brick-faced building was meant to be temporary in nature. It lasted for about 13 years, from c. 1912-1925, and was part of the Metropolitan Tract, property once composing the first University of Washington Campus, developed during the first three decades of the twentieth century by the Metropolitan Building Company.

Demolished; this building was razed c. 1925 to make way for the Skinner Building which was completed in 1927.

PCAD id: 16703