Seattle.gov Home Page
Link to Seattle Department of Neighborhoods home page

Seattle Historical Sites

New Search

Summary for 2124 5th AVE / Parcel ID 0660000025 / Inv #

Historic Name: Hunley Engineering Co. Common Name: Top Pot Doughnuts
Style: Modern Neighborhood: Belltown
Built By: Year Built: 1950
 
Significance
This simple building is a rare downtown example of the Modernistic googly style of architecture, shown by the reverse slant of the large windows. It was designed in 1950 by Kenneth S. Ripley and occupied by the Hunley Engineering Company. It appears to be largely intact on the exterior, with two materials very typical of the 1950s, concrete block and Roman brick. The regrading of Fifth Avenue was not completed until 1930, and the Depression forestalled any significant development for many years. It came to be occupied largely by expansive car lots (primarily used cars at the beginning), with a variety of buildings along 5th Avenue. More intensive development finally began in the 1950s, but it was the 21st century before the area began to fulfill its promised vision at the time of the regrade.
 
Appearance
This building is one story, with an interior mezzanine adding a second story space. It is of concrete block construction with Roman brick veneer on the front. The front is almost entirely of glass, slanted inward from the top to the bottom, giving it a distinctive look. The rear has original industrial steel window sash.

Detail for 2124 5th AVE / Parcel ID 0660000025 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory
Classication: Building District Status:
Cladding(s): Brick - Roman, Concrete, Concrete - Block, Glass Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured
Roof Type(s): Flat Roof Material(s): Unknown
Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Professional Plan: Rectangular
Structural System: Concrete - Block No. of Stories: one
Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Integrity
Changes to Plan: Intact
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Changes to Windows: Intact
Major Bibliographic References
King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972.

Photo collection for 2124 5th AVE / Parcel ID 0660000025 / Inv #


Photo taken Mar 18, 2007
App v2.0.1.0