| Historic Name: |
Machenheimer Bldg for Social Security Administration |
Common Name: |
Cascade Natural Gas (office building) |
| Style: |
Modern - International Style, Modern - Curtain Wall |
Neighborhood: |
Cascade |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1959 |
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| Significance |
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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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This striking International Style building was designed by the Seattle architecture firm of Waldron and Dietz in 1959 as the “Machenheimer Office Building for the Social Security Administration.” Despite subsequent changes in the placement of window mullions as well as a few additions, including additional ramps, all by a later architectural master, George Suyama, around 1984, the building retains its basic original appearance. The ratio of glass to stucco has changed little and the extensive glazing, particularly on the main Fairview elevations, is all in the same location as in the original design. The firm of Waldron and Dietz existed from 1952 to 1957. It was well-known for its educational, commercial and residential work and won several awards in its day. Robert Dietz studied at both the University of Washington (B.Arch., 1941) and MIT (M.Arch., 1944). He held posts at MIT and at Princeton before returning to Seattle to teach and become Dean of the University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning. He also formed architectural practices with J. Lister Holmes (1947-52) in addition to his partnership with Lawrence Waldron. Lawrence Waldron later formed the Seattle firm of Waldron Pomeroy Smith Foote and Akira, now Waldron Akira. The office of Suyama Peterson Deguchi recently won the 2003 AIA Honor Award for Washington Architecture.
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| Appearance |
| This two story building is rectangular in plan with an additional entry bay facing Fairview that is roughly square in plan. This building is distinguished by the glazed entry and heavily glazed wall behind it, which face Fairview. The non-glazed part of the walls is stucco over metal lath. The repeated lines of the mullions as well as the lines of the ramp railings, give the façade an interesting rhythm. The transparency of the walls on Fairview also allow a view of the elegantly detailed entry stair. The building makes a striking impression on Fairview Avenue. Walls to the north and south have little or no glazing and are mostly stucco. The east wall has large rectangular window openings, with a more generous amount of visible stucco wall, compared to the west elevation on Fairview. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
INV |
| Cladding(s): |
Glass - Curtain Wall, Stucco |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Flat |
Roof Material(s): |
Other |
| Building Type: |
Government - Government office |
Plan: |
Rectangular |
| Structural System: |
Mixed |
No. of Stories: |
two |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Politics/Government/Law, Social Movements & Organizations |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Moderate |
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Changes to Plan: |
Slight |
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Changes to Windows: |
Extensive |
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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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Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, ed. Shaping Seattle Architecture, A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994.
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