Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 318 Fairview AVE / Parcel ID 2467400065 / Inv #

Historic Name: Bricklayers' Building International Union #2 Common Name: Bricklayers' Building Style: Modern - International Style Neighborhood: Cascade Built By: Year Built: 1960   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). This building was designed by architect Grant Copeland in 1960. It is architecturally significant as an excellent example of Modernism and late International Style building in Seattle. The design is innovative and uses materials, particularly those related to the bricklayers’art, in a very original way. The exterior elevations actually showcase many of these materials and techniques. The fact that each elevation is distinct, and yet fits well as part of an interesting and harmonious whole, is also remarkable, particularly for a Modernist building which dates from 1960. The building also reminds us, once again, that Cascade was home to many people who were involved in the unions and that the area was associated with industry and the trades. It is a fitting symbol to the work of bricklayers’and to the history of the Cascade neighborhood, and is not easily replaceable   Appearance The building is rectangular in plan and has a flat roof. It is mainly clad in brick, with various types of masonry and tile incorporated into the design of the building’s exterior. It is a late International Style/Modernist building. Each street elevation is distinctive and yet seems part of a greater and well-designed whole. The building consistently uses long rectangular windows with a slight metal reveal on the surface of the brick cladding. Its “back elevation” facing east consists of eight of these windows on the second floor over a ground floor of large expanses of glazing: from the south end, a storefront window followed by two wide windows with low brick sills, then a double glazed door, an expanse of mosaic tile in mostly dark grey with accents of white tile, and then another large window that starts at the ground at the north end. The north elevation begins with a large symbol, representing the bricklayers’ union and incised in the brick. A kiln and a shovel are recognizable within brick symbol, which is surrounded by a sizeable expanse of brick wall, then followed by six of the typical windows on the second and ground levels. The west side of the building is different again. The exterior layer is divided into six bays framed by vertically placed thin metal I-beams. Two bays are essentially open (A metal fence, clearly not part of the original design, has been added, probably for security reasons) and followed by 4 bays filled in with a screen made up of ornamental light grey glazed clay. Behind this screen, to the south end of the next layer of elevation, is a glazed double door entry. Over the entry is an expanse of mosaic tile in various types of gray: speckled gray and darker gray. To the north of the entry, a short brick wall, covered with a very thin veneer of marble or a similar stone, is set at a perpendicular to the interior façade layer. Other features include the second level balcony with metal and glass railing and the poured concrete stair, with metal and wood railing, and meant to be seen through the two open bays.

Detail for 318 Fairview AVE / Parcel ID 2467400065 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: INV Cladding(s): Brick, Concrete, Glass, Metal, Stone, Terra cotta Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Other Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Organizational Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Mixed No. of Stories: two Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Manufacturing/Industry, Social Movements & Organizations Integrity Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Windows: Intact Major Bibliographic References City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records. King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.

Photo collection for 318 Fairview AVE / Parcel ID 2467400065 / Inv #

Photo taken Oct 25, 2003 Photo taken