Seattle Historical Sites

Based on information in the King County Tax Assessor’s Record Card, this heavy timber building originally dates from as early as 1914. At that time, and at least into the early 1990s, the building address was listed as 1800 Airport Way South. Early on, and certainly by 1925, the building was used for industrial purposes and was probably constructed for industrial use. Despite obvious alterations to the windows, as well as other minor alterations, the main façade reflects many elements of its appearance as shown in relatively early documents. The earliest available drawings, which relate to this building, date from 1925. At that time, this industrial building was being altered for the Western Blower Company, which remained in the building at least into the mid-1960s. A photo from around 1936 shows that the raised parapet of the central wing sported a large sign, probably painted, advertising the presence of the “WESTERN BLOWER CO. It seems likely that, like similar companies in the Industrial District, Western Blower was involved in the manufacture of blowers, which, for instance, would remove sawdust and other shavings, created in lumber mills and similar businesses. The company was also apparently responsible for the ventilating system of the former Natatorium, or Crystal Swimming Pool, later the Bethel Temple, which was designed by B. Marcus Priteca (1915-1916), and once stood in its entirety at Second Avenue and Lenora Street.

By the late 1940s, in addition to Western Blower, other tenants included the West Wind Corporation, also listed in Polk’s Seattle Directories as a blower manufacturer and the representatives for H. W. Ruelle, Manufacturing. By the mid-1960s, Western Blower is listed as the only occupant.

In 1991, according to extant drawings, a portion of the building, located to the south of the driveway, was converted for use as a “laboratory” for Northwest EnviroService  Inc. Local directories indicate that EnviroService Inc. specialized in tank cleaning. In 1997, architect Gregory Oaksen produced drawings for the remodel of the entire building for use by Evergreen Treatment Services, a private outpatient clinic. Resulting interior alterations appear to have been fairly extensive. In general, changes to the main elevation continue to retain the general shape and window configuration, as shown in early documents.

Additional Source

Lawrence Kreisman, “Crystal Pool: A Unique Part Of Our Past,” Editorial, Seattle Times, December 16, 1999, available at : http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19991216&slug=3001709, retrieved July 5, 2010.

Note: Early photo from February 1938, courtesy of Washington State Archives, Puget Sound Regional Branch.

This heavy timber building is located on the east side of Airport Way South, on a larger lot, sited between South Massachusetts and South Holgate Streets. Although rectilinear, it is somewhat irregular in plan. The overall plan shape appears as a long rectangle, with various rectangular voids cut out on the eastern, back side. The original structure appears to include repeated heavy timber trusses and heavy timber post and beam construction, although subsequent designs have apparently altered the original interior structure and interior spaces. The building is mainly two stories with a basement level. The area located with the existing trusses is now considered an attic area, set above the second level.

The most prominent exterior feature is the main west elevation along Airport Way South. A taller, central wing with a raised and stepped parapet, is a distinctive portion of the symmetrical façade. At the second level above the basement, this portion of the façade includes six paired window openings. At the level below, there are three sets of paired openings on the south side of this portion of the façade, with a large rectangular opening to the north. (This opening includes an open rectangular pass –through or driveway, as well as a recessed bay with three window and an exterior stair). Although the windows have been replaced throughout the elevation with replacement windows, (with flat replica muntins), these openings are consistent with drawings from 1925 and a later photo from around 1936. Flanking the central wing, there are two symmetrical wings. Each of these was designed with three levels, (including the basement level), consisting of eight paired sets of window openings. While the eight paired sets of window openings remain, each of these wings has now been subdivided with additional vertical elements to appear as four separate bays each. Finally, to each side of this grouping, there is an original end bay, with each level consisting of four paired sets of openings at each level.