Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 3528 S Ferdinand ST S / Parcel ID 1703400755 / Inv #

Historic Name: Columbia School Common Name: Orca at Columbia Style: Spanish - Mission Neighborhood: Columbia City Built By: Year Built: 1922   Significance The Columbia School building was built in 1922. Architect F.A. Naramore designed the school building for the Seattle School District. Floyd Naramore was born in Warren, Illinois in 1879. He received a degree in architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1907. In 1909 he moved to Portland, Oregon and was eventually appointed the Architect and Superintendent of Properties for the Portland school system. In 1919, Naramore succeeded Edgar Blair as the architect for the Seattle School District. The school buidling previously located on the site was built in 1892, with a rear addition built in 1893, and was the oldest school in Rainier Valley; the school had approximatley 80 students and two teacher in its beginning years. The subject building is significant as the only Mission Revival style school in the Seattle School District and as the only stucco clad building that Naramore designed. Columbia School is not included within the locally designated landmark district, but it is included in the national register district, so an inventory form was prepared for the building.   Appearance This one story school building is of frame construction and is supported by a concrete foundation. The building has an E-shaped plan and a flat roof. The building is clad in stucco on reinforced concrete. The building has a metal cornice and cast steel trim. The fenestration consists of a combination of six-over-six and eight-over-eight double hung windows. The arched entrances feature recessed double doors with multi-light transom windows.

Detail for 3528 S Ferdinand ST S / Parcel ID 1703400755 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: NR Cladding(s): Stucco Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition Building Type: Education - School Plan: E-Shaped Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Education Integrity Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Original Cladding: 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 3528 S Ferdinand ST S / Parcel ID 1703400755 / Inv #

Photo taken Mar 22, 2004