Hailey Tran
Grey's Anatomy is a medical drama centred around the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, which was established in 1947. The show follows the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings, including Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), as they juggle their professional and personal lives. While the show is set in Seattle, Washington, most of the filming takes place in Los Angeles, with the exception of some exterior shots and cityscape scenes. The exterior shots of the hospital were filmed at the KOMO TV News Plaza, which is adjacent to the city's iconic Space Needle, and the Veterans Hospital in North Hills, Los Angeles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location of the hospital in the show | Seattle |
| Filming locations | Los Angeles, North Hills, California, West Los Angeles College, KOMO-TV in Seattle, Kerry Park |
| Real-life hospital inspiration | Harborview Medical Center in Seattle |
| Show creator | Shonda Rhimes |
| Year of release | 2005 |
| Number of seasons | 21 |
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What You'll Learn
The hospital is fictional, but based on Harborview Medical Center
Seattle Grace Hospital, the central location of Grey's Anatomy, is a fictional hospital. However, it is based on the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. The show is mostly filmed in Los Angeles, with many prominent sets based in LA pretending to be Seattle. Every single interior shot of Seattle Grace was filmed on a set created in LA studios. The only hospital-related shot in the show that is not based in these studios is the exterior entrance of the hospital, which is the Veterans Hospital in the North Hills area of LA.
The show does feature many beautiful establishing shots of Seattle itself for authenticity. The exterior shots of the hospital are taken from Fisher Plaza, home to ABC's Seattle affiliate KOMO. The helipad at KOMO Plaza was used to show the rooftop of the hospital. The Grey's Anatomy cast and crew have also been spotted filming at Kerry Park, which offers one of the most picturesque views of downtown Seattle, Mount Rainier, Elliott Bay, Bainbridge Island, and the Space Needle.
The show's creator, Shonda Rhimes, brought Seattle into the limelight in 2005 with the popular medical drama. The show revolves around the doctors working at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, formerly Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital, which was formerly Seattle Grace Hospital. The hospital was established in 1947 and has been ranked among the top teaching hospitals for a surgical residency program.
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Most filming occurs in LA, on constructed sets
Although Grey's Anatomy is almost entirely set in Seattle, Washington, most of the filming occurs in Los Angeles (LA), on constructed sets. In the earlier seasons, there were more filming locations in Seattle, but as the show progressed, more and more sets were built on sound stages in LA. Many prominent sets, including the interior of the hospital, are based in LA, pretending to be Seattle.
The only hospital-related shots in the show that are not based in these studios are the exterior entrance and helipad of the hospital. The exterior entrance is filmed at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, California, and the Veterans Hospital in the same area. The helipad scenes are filmed on the roof of KOMO-TV in Seattle, which is also where Seattle’s leading news source is housed. The building is adjacent to the city’s iconic Space Needle.
The Grey's Anatomy production team does head up to Seattle each season to shoot cityscape scenes, as well as any footage that includes the hospital’s helipad. The show features many beautiful establishing shots of Seattle itself for authenticity, including the famous shots of the Seattle skyline with the Space Needle.
Fans of the show can also visit other filming locations in Seattle, such as the infamous Intern House located at 303 W Comstock Street, which is one of the most iconic Grey's Anatomy filming locations. Across the seasons, almost all of the interns at the hospital lived in this house.
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Exterior shots are of KOMO Plaza, Fisher Plaza, and the VA in North Hills
Although Grey's Anatomy is almost entirely set in Seattle, Washington, very little of the series is actually shot there. In fact, most of the filming takes place in Los Angeles, where the sets are located. The show features many beautiful establishing shots of Seattle itself for authenticity, however.
The exterior shots of the hospital are taken from KOMO Plaza, Fisher Plaza, and the VA in North Hills. The KOMO TV News Plaza is where Seattle's leading news source is housed. It comprises two buildings adjacent to the city's iconic Space Needle. The helipad on the roof features in many dramatic shots.
The show's production team heads to Seattle each season to shoot cityscape scenes and any footage that includes the hospital's helipad.
The interior shots of Seattle Grace (later Grace Sloan Memorial) are filmed on sets created in studios in LA.
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The helipad is KOMO Plaza's rooftop
The hospital in Grey's Anatomy is fictional, but it is based on Seattle's own Harborview Medical Center in First Hill. While the show is mostly filmed in Los Angeles, the production team does head to Seattle each season to shoot cityscape scenes and any footage that includes the hospital's helipad. The helipad is KOMO Plaza's rooftop, which is used to show the rooftop of the hospital. KOMO Plaza is also where Seattle's leading news source is housed. It comprises two buildings adjacent to the city's iconic Space Needle and it's an important news and data centre.
The KOMO Plaza helipad features in many dramatic shots. The building is also the home to ABC's Seattle affiliate KOMO, which explains why it is used for exterior shots. While the show has used other locations for filming in Seattle, such as Kerry Park, the helipad is a unique location that has been used throughout the show's run.
The helipad is an important location for the show, as it is often used for dramatic shots and to establish the setting. It is a versatile location that can be used for a variety of shots, from sweeping cityscape views to intimate character moments. The helipad also serves as a reminder of the show's connection to Seattle, as it is one of the few locations that is actually in the city.
While the helipad is a real location, the hospital itself is not. As mentioned earlier, the hospital is based on Harborview Medical Center, but it is not used in the show. This is because the show requires a fully functional hospital set, which would be difficult to create in a real hospital. Instead, most of the interior shots are filmed on a soundstage at Los Feliz's Prospect Studios, while some exterior shots are filmed at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, California.
Despite not being a real hospital, Seattle Grace has become a character of its own in the show. It has a rich history and has been key to keeping many storylines going. The show's fans have a strong connection to the hospital, and it would be difficult for the show to leave it or change it for another location.
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The show features real Seattle skylines and cityscapes
The popular TV show Grey's Anatomy is set in Seattle, Washington, and while very little of the series is actually shot there, the show does feature real Seattle skylines and cityscapes. The show's creator, Shonda Rhimes, has brought Seattle into the limelight with the show, which revolves around the doctors working at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, formerly known as Seattle Grace Hospital.
While most of the filming takes place in Los Angeles, the production team does head to Seattle each season to shoot cityscape scenes and any footage that includes the hospital's helipad. The KOMO TV News Plaza, which is adjacent to the city's iconic Space Needle, serves as the exterior of the hospital, with the helipad on the roof featuring in many dramatic shots.
Kerry Park is another famous filming location in Seattle, offering a picture-perfect view of downtown Seattle, Mount Rainier, Elliott Bay, Bainbridge Island, and the Space Needle. Fans of the show will instantly recognise this location from their TV screens.
Poo Poo Point outside Seattle is another filming location, where viewers can stand on the hill and take in the iconic view that was supposed to be Meredith's kitchen window view.
The show also features the famous shots of the Seattle skyline with the Space Needle, adding a touch of authenticity to the series.
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Frequently asked questions
Although the show is set in Seattle, most of the filming takes place in Los Angeles. The exterior of the hospital is the Veterans Hospital in the North Hills area of LA, and the interior shots are filmed on sets in LA.
The show features many establishing shots of the city of Seattle, including the iconic skyline and the Space Needle.
The shots of the hospital's helipad are filmed on the roof of KOMO-TV in Seattle.
Kerry Park is another filming location in Seattle. The park offers a picturesque view of downtown Seattle, Mount Rainer, Elliott Bay, Bainbridge Island, and the Space Needle.
Yes, you can visit the infamous Intern House located at 303 W Comstock Street, where almost all of the interns lived across the seasons.
