Standing among the clouds, looking down at civilization below, I felt like I was on top of the world.

I was peering down on Seattle and its surrounding areas from the observation deck on the 73rd floor of the 76-story Columbia Center.

Construction began on Columbia Center — formerly known as Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center — in 1982, and was completed in 1985.

The skyscraper made an immediate impact on the Seattle skyline, and the observation deck is a testament to the dramatic height of the building.

Hidden among a maze of law offices and confusing elevator entrances, the Columbia Center observation deck offers sweeping views of Seattle from one of the tallest office buildings west of the Mississippi River.

After purchasing a ticket to the deck from the Fifth Avenue lobby, I was guided to a set of express elevators by a Columbia Center attendant, Jerome Hearn.

“Ninety-five percent of the time it’s tourists who come up here,” Hearn said. “But other times it’s tenants looking for some time off.”

We hopped into one of the many elevators that makes its way to the 40th floor and from there boarded another elevator that heads to the upper reaches of the skyscraper.

These express elevators are rightfully named, as the total ride time to reach the 73rd floor from the lobby was less than a minute.

Once there, there were no signs directing me to the observation deck, and its location only became clear when Jerome unlocked the door. Other than a sign that reads “Observation Deck,” the entrance is simply another wooden office door among many others, almost as if it isn’t meant to be found.

But once it is, it reveals its beauty in dramatic fashion.

After entering the viewing area it became clear why the deck is such a serene place. With only a few others snapping photos and peering out at Elliot Bay, downtown Seattle and Lake Washington, the observation deck is truly an escape from the stress of the real world.

The sun shone brightly, parting the morning clouds and reflecting off of Puget Sound.

With couches facing the panoramic windows, it’s not hard to imagine hard-working lawyers or visitors staring out into the distance.

Travis Snead and his wife Susan, visitors from Baltimore, said they decided to come to the Columbia Center observation deck instead of visit the pricier Space Needle — $5 as opposed to $16 — because they wanted to experience the extreme height and views it offered.

“We were looking at a guidebook and it said this was the highest building,” Snead said. “It’s pretty spectacular; the weather cleared up for us too.”

The clearing weather was something the Sneads hadn’t experienced in their time in Seattle.

“It’s a rush,” Snead said. “Everyone has a little fear of heights but this is great … it’s god-like.”

This god-like view is not quite a 360-degree panorama. The shape of the building causes the view to begin facing the northwest and turns counter-clockwise toward the northeast, forming a roughly 300-degree viewing range.

One employee who works on the observation deck feels privileged to be able to enjoy the sights anytime.

Mary Whitish is a traffic reporter for Metro Traffic Control, a traffic and response observation organization.

For her, being able to see her surroundings is an essential part of the job, but being on top of the world sometimes creates a rewarding distraction.

“The view is immeasurable,” Whitish said. “But we need to be able to see the traffic, so it’s kind of a catch-22.”

Perhaps one of the most impressive displays nature provides around the Columbia Center is when weather systems roll in and separate the Earth and the sky.

Sometimes low-lying clouds divide the lower section of the building from the higher floors, creating a scene that only a few in Seattle can say they have experienced.

“It’s like you’re just on this big pillow,” Whitish said. “Clear on top and dark on the bottom … it’s amazing.”

The lack of visitors in autumn can create an almost meditative atmosphere, but the view has become quite popular in recent years, especially during the summer months.

“During the summer time I believe that there is just as many people coming here as the Space Needle,” Hearn said. “Many of them are looking for somewhere to go before Mariners games and it can get busy.”

The journey back down to the bottom was made without Jerome.

“You can come back down at anytime,” he said.

So I made my way back down in an empty elevator, eardrums stressing under the change in pressure. It was tough, but eventually I had to sever the connection I made with the world above and rejoin civilization below.

Reach reporter Allen Wagner at features@dailyuw.com.