Northwest's tallest building sells for $711 million to Hong Kong investment firm

SEATTLE (AP) — The Pacific Northwest's highest building has been sold to Hong Kong investment company for $711 million.

The Seattle Times reports (http://is.gd/yBlOR6 ) Hong Kong-based Gaw Capital Partners completed its purchase of the 76-story Columbia Center building on Friday. It's one of the biggest real-estate transactions in the region's history.

Real estate market experts could only remember two larger deals in Seattle, but both were for collections of buildings, including a $1.15 billion Amazon.com purchase of 11 buildings in South Lake Union. A Goldman Sachs affiliate made a bulk purchase in 2007 of a dozen properties in the Seattle area for $921 million.

Seattle's tallest skyscraper has gone through several owners since it was built by developer Martin Selig in 1985.