Seattle.gov Home Page
Link to Seattle Department of Neighborhoods home page

Seattle Historical Sites

New Search

Summary for 2005 AIRPORT WAY / Parcel ID 7666203255 / Inv # 0

Historic Name: Olympic Sausage Company Common Name: Oberto Sausage Co.
Style: Modern, Other - Industrial Neighborhood: Duwamish
Built By: Year Built: 1947
 
Significance

Although this utilitarian building has been altered, the northern portion of the main façade has retained much of its original architectural detail. The southern portion of the façade has always been very utilitarian in nature and remains so. The building is of some interest, because it has consistently housed a series of sausage companies. Now occupied by the Oberto Sausage Company, the building was built in 1947 for the Olympic Sausage Company. Original drawings from April 1946 are by A. J. Walters, P. E. The original plan was apparently T-shaped, but was added on to in 1963 to form a virtual rectangle, (with some projecting elements). This did not markedly change the main façade. Oliver W. Olson was the architect for the 1963 addition, commissioned by Silg’s Sausage. By at least the end of 1989, Oberto Sausage Company owned the building. The enclosure of the existing loading dock dates from this time.

 

 
Appearance

This is a one story building with a basement. It is located mid-block between S Holgate and S Walker Streets, on the west side of Airport Way South. Its roof is primarily flat, although a variety of mechanical equipment sits on top of it.


The main façade is along Airport Way South and is divided into two primary sections.

Although the exterior walls of the original building are of reinforced concrete, there is additional brick veneer on the recessed bays of the north portion of the facade. This portion of the façade is divided into three bays, marked by engaged concrete pilasters, which tie into an outer concrete frame. The concrete frame and pilasters, now painted white, define three recessed bays, which are also covered with brick veneer. The central bay has three square window openings, filled with multi-pane steel sash. Typically, each window has three panes in the horizontal direction and three panes in the vertical direction, with what was formerly an operable pane at the center. To each side of the central bay of this northern portion of the façade, there is a narrower bay with a single, typical, square window opening. Based on an early photo of the building façade, the northern portion of the elevation had changed little, except for the introduction of air conditioning units in the location of the original operable window panes. This occurs in the central window of the central bay, as well as in the windows of the bays to each side.


This northern portion of the building has a parapet along Airport Way South and partially so on its very short south elevation. The short elevation also includes a similar window opening with multi-pane glazing.


The southern portion of the main facade has always been more utilitarian in nature and is primarily loading dock. Formerly, the loading dock had an overhang, which has been removed. The loading dock itself has been closed in and a series of service doors added.

 

Detail for 2005 AIRPORT WAY / Parcel ID 7666203255 / Inv # 0

Status: Yes - Inventory
Classication: Building District Status: INV
Cladding(s): Brick, Concrete Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured
Roof Type(s): Flat, Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Asphalt/Composition
Building Type: Industry/Processing/Extraction - Processing Plan: Irregular
Structural System: Concrete - Poured No. of Stories: one
Unit Theme(s): Commerce, Manufacturing/Industry
Integrity
Changes to Plan: Moderate
Changes to Original Cladding: Moderate
Changes to Windows: Slight
Major Bibliographic References
King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
Drawings, Microfiche Files, Department of Planning and Development.

Photo collection for 2005 AIRPORT WAY / Parcel ID 7666203255 / Inv # 0


Photo taken Feb 15, 2010
App v2.0.1.0