| Historic Name: |
Psi Upsilon Fraternity |
Common Name: |
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| Style: |
Tudor |
Neighborhood: |
University |
| Built By: |
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Year Built: |
1924 |
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| Significance |
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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 two-and-one-half story Tudor Revival and Collegiate Gothic style fraternity house was designed in 1924 by Seattle architects Bebb and Gould. Carl Gould served as both planner and architect for the University of Washington, and it is fitting that Gould designed some of the Greek Row buildings. The cladding is a mixture of stucco, half timbering, and some brick, primarily used for window surrounds and details. The Psi Upsilon chapter was established at the University of Washington in 1916. This building has been occupied by the Psi Upsilon fraternity since its construction.
Despite a large addition to the rear (north) elevation, the original building is mostly intact and retains much of its original character. The north addition was designed by Harrison Overturf of Bain & Overturf, in 1955. In 1969 alterations were made to the third floor of the original building by architects Van Slyck, Callison and Nelson. Additional repairs to meet the housing code were made in 1977, and fire damage repair was undertaken in 1979. Nonstructural interior and exterior modifications were done in 1991. Most recently, AAI architecture and interiors changed the flat roof on the 1955 addition to a sloped roof, and virtually all windows have been replaced.
Charles H. Bebb & Carl F. Gould became associated in 1914, offering complementary strengths, with Gould's extensive Beaux-Arts training and Bebb's management and engineering expertise. They designed over 200 projects between 1914 and 1924, and the partnership continued until Gould's death in 1939. Carl Gould founded the University of Washington Department of Architecture in 1914 and served as head of the department from 1915 until 1926. As campus architects, Bebb & Gould designed many University of Washington buildings, including the prominent Suzzallo Library (1922-1927).
Based on field work conducted in October 2014, this historic property retains its relationship to the streetscape, historic building form and a sufficient amount of exterior historic building fabric (design features, cladding and/or window sash/openings) to contribute to the distinct character of the University Park neighborhood.
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| Appearance |
| This imposing Tudor Revival and Collegiate Gothic style fraternity house is sited in a prominent corner location. It is primarily clad in stucco, but includes half timbering at the second floor level above the main entrance and in a projecting section to the east of the main entrance on the south (main) elevation. The building is irregular in plan, characterized by repeating gable roofs in its original form. There is a prominent Tudor style chimney to the west of the main entrance and a massive chimney on the north elevation of the original building. The groups of multi-paned, mostly double-hung windows, add to the building's interest. The windows on the main structure have been replaced. The window surrounds on the stucco portion of the building are decorative brick, and those on the half-timbered portion have wood surrounds.
The three-story (four stories on east elevation) 1955 addition is incompatible with the main building and is a box-like structure added onto the north elevation of the original building. It has vertical wood siding and is relatively deteriorated. The multi-paned windows were intended to match those on the main building. |
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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): |
Gable |
Roof Material(s): |
Wood - Shingle |
| Building Type: |
Domestic - Institutional Housing |
Plan: |
Irregular |
| Structural System: |
Balloon Frame/Platform Frame |
No. of Stories: |
two & ½ |
| Unit Theme(s): |
Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Community Planning/Development, Social Movements & Organizations |
| Integrity |
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Changes to Plan: |
Moderate |
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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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Booth, T. William and William H. Wilson. Carl F. Gould, A Life in Architecture and The Arts. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1995.
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