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Summary for this site is under review and the displayed data may not be fully up to date. If you need additional info, please call (206) 684-0464

Historic Name: St. Paul's Church Common Name: St. Paul's Church
Style: Modern Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Built By: Year Built: 1938, 1963
 
Significance

In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance.

This Neo Expressionism style, A-frame form St. Paul’s Chapel is in the Uptown neighborhood. The existing building consists of two parts from different time periods, both architect designed.

The first St Paul’s Chapel was built in 1903. The St. Paul’s Church had started as a mission in 1892. The 1903 church was one story with a basement, and bell tower at northeast corner. The building stood at the current chapel location, fronting Roy Street.

In 1938, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church undertook a major remodel. They remodeled the 1903 church to make it two stories and constructed a large rectangular two-story addition to the rear (permit 3273347). This rear addition is what remains today. Architects Richard Lytel and La Monte J. Shorett designed the addition and remodel. Richard Lytel stamped the drawings, dated to March of 1938.

By 1957, planning was underway for new a church with a total capacity of 900 people, and to have a Social Hall and a Sunday School. The church hired architects Steinhart, Theriault and Anderson to design the new church. Design drawings were dated to September of 1962 with construction completed in 1963. Woodlam Inc. of Tacoma fabricated the woodlam (glue laminated) wood structural members for the church, with their fabrication drawings dated to September of 1962. The permit (498299) to remove the 1903 church was issued in 1962 and the permit (499030) to construct the new church was issued in 1962. The 1938 addition was retained and serves as the rear portion of the new 1963 church. The estimated value of the new construction was $150,000. In 1962 a permit (499048) was also issued to constructed a marquee along Roy Street on the new church.

Arden C. Steinhart (1906–1994) graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 1950. After graduating, he returned to work with architects Roy C. Stanley and William Jones where he had worked as a draftsman since 1937. Steinhart was made a partner and the firm name changed to Jones, Stanley and Steinhart. In 1952 Robert D. Theriault (1922–2005) was hired, and in 1955, after Jones retired Theriault was made a partner and the firm was renamed Steinhart, Theriault, and Anderson. Theriault graduated from the University of Washington with an architectural degree in 1950 and initially worked for the engineering office of E. G. Putnam. The firm designed multiple churches, community buildings, and schools. Religious projects include Calvary Lutheran Church (1963), John Knox Presbyterian Church (ca. 1965) in Normandy Park, and the Glendale Evangelical Lutheran Church (1967) in Burien. Anderson died suddenly in 1970 at the age of 45. The firm continued on under the name of Steinhart, Theriault and Associates.

This building retains high integrity and is a notable example of Neo Expressionism in the city.

References:

City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.

Documentation and Conservation of the Modern Movement, Western WA. Architect Biographies, “Steinhart, Arden C., Robert D. Theriault” (Accessed July 19, 2018). http://docomomo-wewa.org/architects_detail.php?id=186

Jeffrey Karl Ochsner, ed., Shaping Seattle Architecture: A Guide to the Architects (Seattle, University of Washington Press: 2014), 2nd edition.

King County Property Record Card (c. 1938–1972), Washington State Archives.

Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890–1996.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 0186; FHL microfilm: 2342235

 
Appearance

Constructed in 1938 and 1963, this two-story church features a rectangular plan and consists of two parts. The south gable roofed structure, oriented lengthwise east to west was built as a rear addition to the original church. The north front gable roofed structure, oriented lengthwise north to south replaced the previous church. Located at the southwest corner of Roy Street and First Avenue N, the building faces north. The building is set back from the lot line along the west and south sides. A parking lot extends to the east of the building’s rear portion with a landscaped garden area off the northeast corner of the building. The three street trees in the planting strip along the north side are sweetgums, with three Southern golden rain trees in the planting strip along First Avenue N. A concrete ramp with metal railing descends from Roy Street along the west side of the building. A decorative metal fence extends along the front of the site.

The garden off the northeast corner consists of stone pavers and a large circular labyrinth with a low concrete block structure in the northeast corner. Flowering cherry trees and low shrubs, grasses, and other perennials wrap along the north and east sides providing separation from the public right of way. Pathways comprised of concrete pavers lead into the space from the public right of way. A low metal fence separates the garden area from a recessed garden court along the east side of the building. Multiple mature deciduous trees extend along the front face, and east side of the building.

The garden court serves the basement level of the building and features concrete and stone pavers with low concrete benches for seating. Large aluminum sash windows at the basement level open to this space. A rubble concrete retaining wall extends along the east side of the concrete slab pathway leading down to this garden court.

Gable roofs shelter interior spaces. Lower shed roofs provide transitions between the two main roofs. The main front roof has a varied roofline and is supported by glue laminated beams. Asphalt composition shingles clad this roof. This roof extends down to the foundation level at the front of the building. Wall dormers project out at the first story level along the east and west sides of the building. Gable roofs project out over these dormers. The main ridgeline consists of a series of flat low pitched south facing skylights and roofing on the north slopes. These form a repeating diamond pattern along the ridgeline that follows the gable end shingle pattern. The rear roof features modest eave and gable overhangs with a wide barge board and rake moldings. Asphalt composition shingles clad the roof over the rear portion. Rolled roofing clads the shed roofs.

A concrete foundation supports the platform frame rear structure and the laminated timber north structure.

The front of the building is a triangular gable end rising from grade to the ridgeline. Diamond shaped metal shingles clad both the front and rear facades (gable ends). Stucco clads the walls of the overhanging dormers along the side of the building. The side facades consist predominately of windows set in an aluminum frame at both the basement and first story levels.

Exterior of the rear portion consists of shingle cladding. A wood louver with wood casings in the gable ends provides ventilation for the attic. Wood sash single lite casements and paired double hung sash provide day lighting. Windows feature wood casings with a decorative outer molding and wood sills. Mullions separate the paired sash. Double hung sash feature a small upper lite with a larger lower lite.

Exterior of the shed roof addition (off the northeast corner of the rear building portion) consists of V-groove wood siding with corner boards.

The front north entrance consists of a shed roof that tapers to a slim outer profile with glass panels enclosing a vestibule below this roof. Two sets of double doors provide access to this vestibule. The roof was original specified to be clad with Hypalon (a chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber produced by DuPont Performance Elastomers).

Alterations on the rear building portion include replacing of wood sash with aluminum sliders. A stoop addition off the east side including a wood landing and stairs. Alterations on the northeast shed roof addition include replacing wood sash with an aluminum slider. In 1963 work installed six gas furnaces (permit 20925). In 1976 work resurfaced the parking lot. Previous work replaced the original folded roof entrance canopy on the north facade with the existing tapered shed roof assembly.

Detail for this site is under review and the displayed data may not be fully up to date. If you need additional info, please call (206) 684-0464

Status: Yes - Inventory
Classication: Building District Status:
Cladding(s): Metal, Shingle, Stucco, Wood Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured
Roof Type(s): Gable Roof Material(s): Metal, Asphalt/Composition-Shingle
Building Type: Religion - Religious facility Plan: Rectangular
Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: two
Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Religion
Integrity
Changes to Plan: Slight
Changes to Windows: Intact
Changes to Original Cladding: Intact
Major Bibliographic References

Photo collection for this site is under review and the displayed data may not be fully up to date. If you need additional info, please call (206) 684-0464


Photo taken Feb 27, 2018

Photo taken Feb 27, 2018

Photo taken Feb 27, 2018

Photo taken Feb 27, 2018

Photo taken Feb 27, 2018

Photo taken Feb 27, 2018

Photo taken Feb 27, 2018

Photo taken Feb 27, 2018

Photo taken Feb 27, 2018

Photo taken Feb 27, 2018
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