| Historic Name: |
Chi Psi Fraternity |
Common Name: |
Chi Psi Fraternity |
| Style: |
Italian - Italian Renaissance |
Neighborhood: |
University |
| Built By: |
Stuart and Wheatley, architects; Nils Hedion, builder |
Year Built: |
1927 |
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| Significance |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. |
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In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. |
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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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This Italian Renaissance-style palace building was designed by architects Stuart and Wheatley in 1926 for the Chi Psi Fraternity. It is notable for its Mediterranean style, which is very different from most Greek Row buildings at the University of Washington and its central entry portal with detail around the arched doorway and a wrought iron-balcony above on the third-floor level. The tile hipped roof is also an important element of the overall design.
It is significant because it is a relatively intact example of a 1920s fraternity house in the stately Italian Renaissance style. The only substantial alteration is the enclosure of the loggia on the south side in 1997.
Seattle architects Stuart & Wheatley also designed the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Bertram Dudley Stuart and Arthur Wheatley, the original architects, worked in partnership from 1925-1930. Bertram Dudley Stuart was born in London in 1885 and came to Seattle in 1918. Other buildings designed by Stuart and Wheatley include Exeter House Apartments, Bergonian Hotel (now Mayflower Hotel), and Marlborough Apartments. Stuart died in 1977.
Additional Reference: Divoky, Andrea. Notes on University of Washington Fraternities and Sororities, compiled in 1997 and updated in 2002.
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| Appearance |
| This three-story Italian Renaissance-style palace is quite different from the majority of Greek Row buildings. It shows a strong Mediterranean influence in its distinctive style. It has a stucco exterior over brick masonry. The Chi Psi fraternity buiding is relatively intact, except for the unfortunate enclosure of the loggia on the south side of the building, now filled in with window panels. The building has a segmental plan with a central entrance portal and windows, which have ornamental cast concrete surrounds and a wrought-iron balcony. The ornate wood door appears to be original. The concrete steps and entry porch are simply detailed and consistent with the overall design. It has a red-tile hipped roof with broad eaves. The building has some of its original leaded glass windows, casement windows on the first and second floor and wooden double-hung windows at the third floor, which appear to be original.
Some alterations were made to the building in 1947, and interior alternations were made in 1992, designed by architect David Nordfors. David Nordfors also designed the porch enclosure for the library and interior alterations in 1997. The 1997 porch enclosure, which includes stucco panels and new multi-paned casement windows, is quite sensitive to the original design. Many of the windows appear to have been replaced, but they are a close match for the originals.
The building has been quite well maintained and does not suffer from the incompatible additions found on many other Greek Row buildings at the University of Washington. |
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| Status: |
Yes - Inventory |
| Classication: |
Building |
District Status: |
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| Cladding(s): |
Stucco |
Foundation(s): |
Concrete - Poured |
| Roof Type(s): |
Hip |
Roof Material(s): |
Clay Tile |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Institutional Housing |
Plan: |
Irregular |
| Structural System: |
Masonry - Unreinforced |
No. of Stories: |
three |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Social Movements & Organizations |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Plan: |
Intact |
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Changes to Windows: |
Extensive |
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Changes to Original Cladding: |
Intact |
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| Major Bibliographic References |
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City of Seattle DCLU Microfilm Records.
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King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives.
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Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, ed. Shaping Seattle Architecture, A Historical Guide to the Architects. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994.
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Johnston, Norman, "Where the Greeks Came Marching In: Their 'Row' at the University of Washington." Unpublished manuscript for Columbia Magazine. Forthcoming 2002.
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Kreisman, Lawrence. "Frat Row, Students find a home away from home on a gracious boulevard." Seattle Times, February 12, 1989.
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