Investment banking occupiers in Seattle typically cluster in Downtown CBD, plan ~215 sqft per seat at trophy fit-out ($270–410/sqft), and pay around 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) on Class A.

• Preferred submarket: Downtown CBD.
• Typical fit-out spec: Trophy ($270–410/sqft).
• Plan ~215 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
• Class A rent context: 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD).
• Typical lease: 10 years with 16 months rent-free.
• Talent depth in Seattle: 92/100.

TL;DR

• Preferred submarket: Downtown CBD.
• Typical fit-out spec: Trophy ($270–410/sqft).
• Plan ~215 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
• Class A rent context: 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD).
• Typical lease: 10 years with 16 months rent-free.
• Talent depth in Seattle: 92/100.

Where they cluster

Investment banking occupiers in Seattle typically anchor in Downtown CBD. Tech, banking, law, professional services, government.

What they pay

Class A rent in Seattle runs 52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) on a 10-year lease with 16 months free. Trophy submarkets command a 20–40% premium above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical investment banking fit-out targets trophy specification at $270–410/sqft. Bespoke design, signature feature, top-tier MEP and acoustic packages are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 215 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount banking office in Seattle typically targets 21,500 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Bulge-bracket teams favor signature trophy assets with full client-facing programming and large floor plates. Deepest cloud, AI, and SaaS engineering talent pool in North America. UW and a deep network of T-1 engineering programs feed. Cost-of-living advantage versus Bay Area is structural.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 21%. Modified-gross structures with operating-expense pass-throughs. 10-12 year terms standard for trophy. Free rent of 12-18 months and TI of $100-$150/sqft typical on a 10-year deal.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Where do investment banking occupiers lease office space in Seattle?

Most cluster in Downtown CBD. Rent runs ~52 USD/sqft ($52 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do investment banking occupiers run in Seattle?

Typically trophy at $270–410/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a investment banking occupier plan in Seattle?

Plan ~215 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,500 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the investment banking vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 523150, 522110.

What is the talent index in Seattle?

92/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Related

• Investment banking — global overview
• Seattle — full city profile
• Financial services in Seattle
• Asset management in Seattle
• Legal services in Seattle
• Big tech in Seattle

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Miriam Hollander — Lead market analyst. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

• CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
• JLL Office Insight — JLL
• Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
• Savills World Research — Savills
• Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction

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