David Zarett’s eponymous company, Zarett Properties, has changed the landscape of Seattle’s downtown. By transforming two of Seattle’s landmark structures (the Cobalt Building and the former Diamond Ice & Co. plant) into contemporary work spaces with exposed brick and beams, David Zarett has established his reputation as a forward-thinking businessman engaged with the city’s past. Zarett Properties acquired the Diamond Ice building in 1997 for $1.2 million. The City of Seattle had condemned the former warehouse, but after three years and $10 million worth of renovation, David Zarett leased the architectural spaces to tenants, including The Cobalt Group and Starbucks Corporation. David Zarett exceeded such a remarkable achievement in his work with the Cobalt Building. Located near Seattle’s Qwest Field, the 122,000-square-foot Cobalt Building had been a fixture of the city’s architectural history for nearly a century and was purchased by Zarett Properties in 1997. A decade later, David Zarett sold the Cobalt Building to UCM/FPI-Cobalt LLC for $20 million. Receiving his education at Southern Oregon State University, David Zarett focused his studies on business. David Zarett also participated in extracurricular activities such as hiking, music appreciation and exchange programs. Committing himself to charitable causes like the Boys and Girls Club, Camp Korey, and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, David Zarett has long exemplified his belief in the value of “giving back.”