| Historic Name: |
Sigma Nu Fraternity |
Common Name: |
Sigma Nu Fraternity |
| Style: |
Arts & Crafts - Prairie Style |
Neighborhood: |
University |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1916 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). |
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The Sigma Nu fraternity (1916) was one of the first buildings constructed on 17th Avenue NE (then known as University Boulevard), today's Greek Row. It is one of the most innovative fraternity houses in its design, and its architect, Ellsworth Storey, is a well-known Seattle architect. He also designed the nearby University Presbyterian Church "Inn." The Sigma Nu building represents a bold departure from the Old English and Colonial styles of architecture that had characterized early fraternity and sorority houses. Sigma Nu is the only fraternity house that reflects the Prairie style of architecture, and shows the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Chicago School in its design. The building also blends in with the Collegiate Gothic style found on campus and of other nearby fraternity buildings.
Sigma Nu was the first national chapter fraternity established at the University of Washington, chartered in 1896. The fraternity had an earlier building on 15th Avenue NE. The 1916 building was apparently financed by Samuel Hedges Sr. whose son drowned in Lake Washington. The man agreed to provide the funding for a new fraternity house if the building included a gymnasium in the design so that the members would have a place to exercise. The fraternity house was completed in 1916 at a cost of $35,000.
Additional References
Seattle Landmark Nomination Form, Sigma Nu Fraternity House, 1978?
Jackson, Clifford. "Sigma Nu Fraternity," Unpublished paper, University of Washington, 1964.
Johnston, Norman. "Row Show," Columns, Fall 2001.
Based on field work conducted in October 2014, this historic property retains its relationship to the streetscape, historic building form and a sufficient amount of exterior historic building fabric (design features, cladding and/or window sash/openings) to contribute to the distinct character of the University Park neighborhood.
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| Appearance |
| The Sigma Nu fraternity is a three-story, brick, concrete and frame structure, with a rectilinear, flat-roofed form. A one-story sunroom is located on the east side of the main building. It is characterized by flat brick arch wall openings, buttresses on the 47th Street and north elevations, and a simple frame cornice. The base, window sills, and entry are concrete. The concrete entrance has square columns with vaguely Corinthian capitals above the door and includes the Sigma Nu crest. The building has Flemish bond brickwork.
The gymnasium was integral to the design, and the gym formed the core of the composition. Two story brick pilasters defined five thin vertical bays that opened out from the gymnasium. French doors and the tall south facing windows above provide considerable daylight. The banding under the sill line of the top floor windows adds to the horizontal feeling of the building mass. The original leaded glass windows in the sunroom wing and porch above have been replaced with sheet glass. Some basement windows (east elevation) have been replaced as well.
Minor alterations to the building were made during the 1940s. In 1961, new exterior entry stairs were constructed and the interior of the first floor was altered. The architect was Lloyd J. Lovegreen. In 1963, the gym was remodeled into two floors. The modifications, designed by Harmon Pray & Detrich, were primarily internal, but the sunroom windows may have been changed at this time.The building was renovated in 1994 by Arai/Jackson.
Additional References
Seattle Landmark Nomination Form, Sigma Nu Fraternity House, 1978?
Jackson, Clifford. "Sigma Nu Fraternity," Unpublished paper, University of Washington, 1964.
Johnston, Norman. "Row Show," Columns, Fall 2001. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Hold |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Brick, Concrete - Block |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Hip |
Roof Material(s): |
Other |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Institutional Housing |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
three |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Social Movements & Organizations |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Windows: |
Slight |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Johnston, Norman, "Where the Greeks Came Marching In: Their 'Row' at the University of Washington." Unpublished manuscript for Columbia Magazine. Forthcoming 2002.
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Divoky, Andrea. Notes on University of Washington Fraternities and Sororities, compiled in 1997 and updated in 2002.
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City of Seattle. Seattle Inventory Field Form. 1979.
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