Historic Seattle honors local adaptive reuse projects

Nonprofit Historic Seattle has announced the eight winners of its annual Preservation Awards.

Now in their 17th year, the awards recognize people and projects that reflect the organization’s mission of “preserving and protecting meaningful places,” and the history and culture they represent.

The awards are split between project specific honors and those spotlighting different community members/groups for their advocacy and efforts in historic preservation.

The winning preservation projects are:

Best Preservation Project

Project: RailSpur Micro District

Developer: Urban Villages

Architects: Miller Hull (Populus Seattle), Shed Architecture & Design (419 Occidental and 115 S. Jackson St.)

General contractors: JTM Construction (Populus Seattle), Chinn Construction (419 Occidental and 115 S. Jackson St.)

The RailSpur micro district is made up of three early 20th century warehouse buildings in Pioneer Square now transformed to new uses: a boutique hotel (Populus Seattle), a mixed-use office building (419 Occidental), and a short-term furnished apartment rental property (115 S. Jackson St.)

The buildings are all linked by private alleyways that used to be a rail spur for trains delivering and picking up goods from the warehouses.

Penthouse additions were added to all three warehouses, and an eight-story stair tower was added to one side of 419 Occidental.

The first RailSpur building, 419 Occidental, opened in 2021 and the last, Populus Seattle, made its debut last month.

Still to open at the micro district are three new restaurant concepts from celebrated local Chef Renee Erickson, and a new location for national cocktail bar concept, Death & Co. Those will all open at 419 Occidental.

Death & Co is eyeing a summer opening. Erickson plans to open her restaurants in the fall.

Preserving Neighborhood Character

Project: Seattle Public Library Green Lake Branch

Developer: Seattle Public Library

Architect: BuildingWork

General contractor: Kassel & Associates

he Seattle Public Library and project team members were honored for their recent renovation of the library’s historic Green Lake Branch.

The updates focused on upgrading the landmarked building to ensure it could better serve the current community and future generations. Historic architecture was preserved and a host of critical, contemporary improvements were added.

The project scope included a seismic retrofit; installation of a new highly efficient fossil-fuel-free system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); and accessibility and patron experience improvements. The latter included a new universal-design lower-level entrance, a new elevator, new restrooms, a new service desk area, new study and meeting rooms — with new furniture, finishes, and LED lighting throughout.

Constructed in 1909, the Green Lake Branch is one of six existing Carnegie Libraries in Seattle Public Library’s system.

Community Investment Award

Project: Metropole Building

Developer: Satterberg Foundation

Architect: BuildingWork

General contractor: W.G. Clark Construction

After sitting empty and crumbling for over 15 years, the Metropole Building reopened with a new mission, look and purpose this spring.

Following renovation and rehabilitation, the 1892 property is now home to several nonprofit organizations serving communities of color, plus a childcare center, community kitchen, arts and cultural venues, and a conference and event center.

The property was in bad shape and needed a lot of work to bring it back to life. The work scope included the reconstruction of collapsed upper floors, a new penthouse level, and the introduction of modern structural, life safety and seismic systems throughout.

Community Investment Award

Project: Postmark Center for the Arts

Developer: City of Auburn

Architect: Johnston Architects

General contractor: American West Construction

The Postmark Center for the Arts is located inside Auburn’s original 1937 post office.

The former post office is now a community arts and culture space and rental venue offering diverse gallery spaces, community gathering space, artists in residence and art studios equipped to offer a wide variety of programming and arts education, including printmaking, jewelry, glass, music, and dance.

The post office’s historic vault has been preserved and is now reimagined as a unique standalone gallery space called the Vault Gallery.

MORE AWARDS

Historic Seattle’s people specific awards went to:

• The friends and members of the Sunset Hill Community Hall who won the Community Advocacy Award for their successful effort to gain landmark status for the 1929 building. The hall was designated a city landmark in March. The winner of this award gets $3,000 to fund ongoing work.

• Bryce and Chris Seidl, who were honored with an Outstanding Stewardship Award for the extensive interior renovation and years of care shown to their 1904 single-family home, Burwell House, on Capitol Hill’s Millionaire’s Row. The home was added to the city’s landmark list in April. The Seidls nominated the property for landmarking.

• Lisa Howard, the executive director of the Alliance for Pioneer Square, who was recognized with a Preservation Champion award for her efforts to protect and revitalize Seattle’s original neighborhood.

• Don Davies and Joan Crooks who won the Council Award for their use of cutting-edge green materials in the renovation of Hubbard’s Corner in Green Lake.

All awardees will be celebrated at Historic Seattle’s annual Preservation Awards Celebration on Sept. 25 at The Labour Temple (2800 First Ave).

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