When Two Union opened in 1989, critics celebrated its 'distinctly expressionist design'—an architectural vision deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest's character and economy. Dubbed a 'northwest regionalist' building, Two Union's design weaves regional elements throughout its features. For example, the security guard desk and lobby directory were fabricated in the shape of an airplane wing. The pedestals for each of the 14 flags that surround Union Square’s outdoor plaza were built to resemble the bollards found along Seattle's waterfront. Some of these forms were more suggestive, such as the way the north façade of the building curves gracefully in the form of an airfoil, evoking the wing of an airplane or the sail of a ship. Crowning the structure, a bright white penthouse pays playful tribute to the snow-capped peaks that frame the city.