History
History
Although it has changed its name and appearance several times over the course of its life, the Senate building – also known as the Senate Mall – was originally constructed in 1898, and is among the oldest structures in Alaska. In 1913 it received its first remodel, in 1944 a third floor was added, and in 1984 a major renovation including the addition of a fourth-floor was completed soon after Larry Spencer and Bruce Denton purchased it in October of 1982; just one day before a hotly contested capitol move vote.
Currently, the Senate Mall is a four-story commercial building owned and managed by Senate Properties. The first and second floors are occupied by retail businesses and the third and fourth are office suites. Senate Properties management has been committed to the revitalization of the historic district of Downtown Juneau since the beginning. Today they continue this mission by ensuring that all of the retail tenants are locally owned, year-round businesses that serve both the local community and our visitors. Additionally, the office suites are designed to serve a variety of businesses with a combination of full-time tenants, spaces that are set aside for short-term rental, and the availability to create virtual office spaces with the utilization of the 3rd-floor receptionist.
The Senate Mall is located in the historic district of the downtown area of Alaska’s capital city, Juneau. It is within short walking distance from the cruise ship terminals, city bus terminal, and the State Capitol Building. Once in Juneau, finding your way to the Senate Mall is easy. However, getting to Juneau in the first place is another story. Juneau is on the mainland of Southeast Alaska but is literally an island of civilization surrounded by wilderness. There are no roads in or out, so the only way to arrive is via boat or plane. Visitors typically arrive on a cruise ship, the Alaska Marine Highway (ferry service), or on an Alaska Airlines jet.