Historic Name: |
Warren Avenue North Pump Station |
Common Name: |
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Style: |
Modern |
Neighborhood: |
Queen Anne |
Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1957 |
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Significance |
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The Seattle Water Department constructed this one-story stone-clad pump station in 1957 two blocks south of the 1925 Queen Anne Pump Station. In the late 1950s, the Water Department proceeded with plans to construct new pump stations at Lincoln and Volunteer Reservoirs, which would contain more efficient pumping facilities to take advantage of favorable hydraulic factors. The Water Department also planned to install new water pumping equipment on Queen Anne Hill. Rather than upgrade the older existing facility, a new pump station was constructed in a unique location, set into the hillside of the unused right of way between the upper and lower routes of Valley Street at Warren Avenue North. The Water Department anticipated that the new pumping facilities would satisfy the then foreseeable ultimate demand for Capitol Hill, Queen Anne Hill and Magnolia Bluff. This reservoir pump station is similar in design and materials to the Lincoln Reservoir Pump Station, also completed in 1957, and the Bitter Lake Reservoir Pump Station completed the following year in north Seattle. The Volunteer Park Pump Station was also completed in 1958 but constructed completely underground. Though modest in design, the Warren Avenue North Pump Station is significant for its association with the growth and development of the Seattle water system.
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Appearance |
Completed in 1957, this one-story reinforced concrete building is set into the hillside within the right of way between the two levels of Valley Street at Warren Avenue North. The building faces south onto the lower level, which is a one-way street going east. The rectangular plan building rests on a concrete foundation above a high curb. The western end wall extends a foot or so beyond the principal south elevation and supports the flat overhanging roof. At each end of the south elevation, there is a concrete platform reached by a set of stairs and enclosed by a simple railing. At the western end, double metal entrance doors open onto the platform while a single entrance door opens onto the platform at the eastern end. Originally, the upper portion of the wall between these two entrances contained four horizontal window openings set with glass blocks below a "SEATTLE WATER DEPARTMENT" sign at the center. Only the opening at the far eastern end remains intact. Metal louvers now fill the two openings in the western half. The fourth window opening has been enlarged to accommodate modern metal double doors, which open onto a concrete platform accessed on both sides by a set of stairs. This is a later addition as well. An attractive roughcut stone set in random-coursed ashlar masonry covers the south elevation of the concrete structure and extends about a foot onto the east and west elevations. Finished with plain concrete, these elevations both have one small louvered opening. Only the upper portion of the rear north elevation is exposed. Access to the flat rooftop is restricted by a chain link fence on the north, east and west sides. Although altered, this building is well maintained. |
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