Living in Seattle
CTI is fortunate to have its U.S. headquarters located in Seattle, Washington. If you have never been to Seattle or haven’t spent much time here, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Quite simply, Seattle has it all: a vibrant biotechnology industry, beautiful weather, breathtaking scenery, culture, art music, and great schools. It’s also an outdoor sports paradise, with nearby sailing, hiking, biking, fishing, and skiing.
There’s a lot to discover about living in Seattle. Take a moment to read about some of the highlights.
Biotechnology Industry in Seattle
The Greater Seattle area and Washington state are becoming known as one of the premier biotechnology centers in the world. Nearly one-half of the more than 230 private and publicly traded biotechnology and medical device firms in Washington are founded on technologies developed at one of the area’s non-profit institutions. And, in 1990, the FHCRC’s E. Donnall Thomas received the Nobel Prize for his pioneering work with bone marrow transplantation.
University of Washington Washington State University Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) Pacific Northwest Research Institute Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryRelated Links
Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association City of Seattle biotech industry informationClimate, Geography, and Weather
Seattle enjoys the shorelines of two large lakes and Puget Sound, and is flanked by two mountain ranges. The San Juan Islands, Pacific Ocean beaches, and major rivers are also nearby.
Although Seattle is known for rain, our average annual rainfall is less than Houston, New York City, Atlanta, Memphis, and St. Louis. The annual average temperature in the Seattle-Tacoma area is 59.3 degrees. Temperatures in mid-summer average 75 degrees.
Related Links
The Weather Channel Guide to the San Juan IslandsEconomy, Cost of Living, Taxes
- Seattle is ranked as one of the best U.S. cities in which to locate a business. Key factors are Seattle’s skilled work force, manufacturing capability, education and research, quality transportation and infrastructure, access to international and domestic markets, and government accessibility.
- Economic success throughout the Puget Sound region is largely due to a favorable environment for business development and attractive personal tax climate.
Related Links
City of Seattle economy Economy & cost of living information on WBBA Web siteEducation
- Washington has an extensive training and education system with 22 public and private four-year colleges and universities, 27 public two-year colleges, and five public voc-tech institutions.
- The University of Washington in Seattle is a recognized leader in medical technology, bioengineering, nuclear engineering, aerospace, oceanography, fisheries and forestry.
- Washington State University in Pullman boasts the Pacific Northwest’s only College of Veterinary Medicine
- Seattle ranks first in the U.S. with 47% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree.
Related Links
Community and technical colleges Seattle school guide Washington Superintendent of Public InstructionLocal Industry
- Seattle is the home of industry leaders Microsoft, Amazon.com, Alaska Air, Costco, Nordstrom, Starbucks, and Safeco Insurance just to name a few.
- Boeing moved its headquarters to Chicago, yet remains a committed employer in the Seattle area.
- Greater Seattle is a leading center for advanced technology in aerospace, computer software, bioinformatics, genomics, telemedicine, electronics, medical equipment, and environmental engineering
Related Links
Seattle industry and businessCulture and Entertainment “Seattle is renowned for the arts and for integrating art into the civic fabric. Our city is recognized for internationally acclaimed theater, music and dance; festivals celebrating the diversity in our cultural communities; and public art that engages us throughout the city. I believe that art is a key element in making this a wonderful place to live.” — Greg Nickels, Mayor, City of Seattle
- Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, numerous art galleries, the Seattle Art Museum, rich theater center
- Family entertainment includes: Woodland Park Zoo, Children’s Museum, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Aquarium, Family Fun Center, Experience Music Project (EMP), Museum of Flight, cultural events such as the Folklife Festival and Seattle International Film Festival
- International cuisine and our famous fresh seafood — more than 2,000 restaurants in greater Seattle
- Seattle boasts 29 professional theater companies, 56 fringe theater companies, and seven theater schools, more than 80 live music clubs, 15 symphony orchestras, ten major art and cultural heritage museums, and 190 private art galleries
Related Links
Dining in Seattle City Search Visit Washington Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau Come Downtown Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs Seattle.netSports and Recreation
- Major sports teams: NBA Basketball—Seattle SuperSonics; Major League Baseball—Seattle Mariners; NFL Football—Seattle Seahawks; Hockey—Thunderbirds, Professional Soccer—Sounders FC; WNBA—Storm
- State-of-the-art facilities: Safeco Field, Qwest Field, Key Arena
- Hiking, sailing, mountain climbing, skiing, camping, fishing, and so much more
- Active and talented University sports programs
- 22 public and 15 private 18-hole golf courses
- Active non-pro team sports leagues for the rest of us
- Seattle has more pleasure boat owners per capita than any other metropolitan city.