Where's It Wednesday—LXIX

Another interior shot this week. Where in Seattle is this?

Answer next week.

Details on the weekly Where's It Wednesday puzzle here.
Other weeks' puzzles here.
Answer to last week's puzzle, after the jump.

Last week's picture an elevator control panel with an interesting detail:

This elevator is in the west tower of the Seattle Sheraton between Union and Pike on 6th Avenue. I've seen them in other elevators as well.

So, what does it do? I didn't press the one at the Sheraton that day, but instead relied on teh Google. A sampling of replies:

• You hear a recording telling you to bend over and kiss your *** goodbye!
• Lex Luthor had a penthouse suite at that hotel and they installed that button for him.
• Obviously it stops the earthquake...DUH!
• A red "earthquake" light on a control panel glows to warn someone to do something.

Then I found a surviving video of someone actually pressing it, and, ... well, see for yourself:



Most modern high-rise elevators have an automatic sensor that detects excessive vertical or horizontal movement, and will cause the elevator to stop at the next lower floor and open the doors, presumably so the passengers can then run screaming towards the stairs. I'm guessing the button does the same thing if for some reason the sensor switch fails.