| Historic Name: |
228 9th Avenue North/ Unknown |
Common Name: |
Sellen Construction Company |
| Style: |
Beaux Arts - Neoclassical, Commercial |
Neighborhood: |
South Lake Union |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1928 |
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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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228 9th Avenue North, parcel number 1986200110, was built in 1928. It is typical of one story warehouse buildings in the South Lake Union area, in the use of patterns in the rug brick veneer, and the engaged piers, described on the surface of the the facade by cast-stone capitals and bases, with implied brick shafts. Although the façade has been remodeled, it stands out because of the cast-stone bas-reliefs, oddly reminiscent of Byzantine motifs. This level of ornament is not present on the other early warehouse buildings in the South Lake Union area. These bas-reliefs should be preserved.
The northern building, erected in 1948, has a remodeled façade and has lost any architectural integrity. Alterations were apparently made to both buildings by the architectural firm of Waldron and Dietz in 1957 for the John Sellen Construction Company, with Sigmund Ivarsson as structural engineer.
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| Appearance |
| 228 9th Avenue North, parcel number 1986200110, is located mid-block on the eastern side of 9th Avenue North between Thomas Street and John Street. It is the older of two buildings, which have the same address, but the adjacent, northern building, whose parcel number is 1986200115, has a completely modernized façade, with a new entry door and heavy wooden window frames, which define long vertical slat-like openings. A metal awning that runs most of the length of the façade has also been added. There is no remarkable architectural detailing in the brick, which may have been replaced. This northern building has no architectural or historical significance.
The southern building, on the other hand, although also remodeled with new fenestration and a metal awning on the main facade, presents significant detailing that bears description. The one-story building has a rectangular plan, a flat roof and parapet. It has one main façade along 9th Avenue North, while the south and east elevations are visible along alleyways. The south and east exterior walls seem to be mainly constructed of hollow terra cotta brick. The south elevation also has several windows with original industrial sash.
The main façade is clad in rug brick with cast-stone or concrete trim. Like many early warehouse buildings in the South Lake Union area, it has engaged piers with a concrete base, an implied brick clad shaft and a flat cast-stone capital. These occur at the ends of the façade and at its center, creating two bays. The capital ornament is distinctive and consists, on its face, of a rectangle in cast–stone with two griffin-like animals placed to each side of a jar, which sits on acanthus-like vegetation. The parapet level of the building is also emphasized by brick patterns: a large rectangular outline created by horizontal and vertical courses of stretcher brick runs across the top of the façade. Within the large rectangle, running horizontally, are a series of rows of brick, that combine stretchers and headers in different numbers; for instance, the second row will have two stretcher bricks, then two headers, and repeat this pattern to the end of the row; while the third row will start with a longer brick, but then alternate with two stretchers and then four header bricks, and so on. The pattern is noticeable, although the choice of combinations of stretchers and headers, upon analysis, seems random.
In respect to openings, the façade of this building has also been remodeled. It has no entryways on 9th Avenue North, and like its neighbor, presents the new, vertical window openings, set in heavy wood frames. A long metal awning has also been added. |
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