Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 222 2nd Avenue Extension / Parcel ID 5247801115 / Inv #

Historic Name: Metropolitan Building Common Name: Seattle Light Fixture Company Style: Commercial, Queen Anne - Richardsonian Romanesque Neighborhood: Pioneer Square Built By: Year Built: 1905   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property is located in a potential historic districe (National and/or local). King County Assessor’s Records give a date of 1906 to the building, although the “Metropolitan Building,” with a rectangular footprint, is consistently shown on this lot on Baist Maps from 1905, 1908 and 1912. The building dates originally from a time of explosive economic and physical growth for the original commercial center of Seattle, although the construction and use of arcuated openings at the top level seem to hark back to older buildings in the former “burnt district.” The trapezoidal footprint, the flattened apex and the longer western façade are related to the Second Avenue Extension public works project of 1928-29, which cut a swath from Yesler Way to past Jackson Street. These are probably a well-done reconstruction from that period.   Appearance 222 Second Avenue South, which currently houses the Seattle Lighting Fixture Company, is virtually trapezoidal in plan with a flattened apex between Second Avenue Extension and Main Street. It is four stories in height and has brick exterior walls, which have been painted and a wood interior frame. It has major elevations on Second Avenue Extension, Main Street, a short bay corresponding to the flattened apex and an elevation facing the railroad tracks and Fourth Avenue South. The ground level of the Second Avenue facade has wide trabeated openings with storefront. In general, the second and third levels have trabeated openings, with bays composed of two or three window openings per floor. The bays are also defined at the second and third levels by slightly projecting two story piers. A belt-course surmounts the second and third levels. The top level has bays of arcuated openings which correspond to the openings below. The piers are not expressed at this level.

Detail for 222 2nd Avenue Extension / Parcel ID 5247801115 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: NR, LR Cladding(s): Brick, Stone - Cast Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Business Plan: Irregular Structural System: Masonry - Unreinforced No. of Stories: four Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture Integrity Changes to Original Cladding: Slight Changes to Plan: Moderate Storefront: Moderate Changes to Windows: Slight Major Bibliographic References King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972. Baist, William. Baist’s Real Estate Atlas of Surveys of Seattle, Wash. Philadelphia: W. G. Baist, 1905, 1908, 1912 and 1928.

Photo collection for 222 2nd Avenue Extension / Parcel ID 5247801115 / Inv #

Photo taken Jun 08, 2004