Preservation in Progress

Historic Seattle’s Blog

Queen Anne High School

Historic Seattle’s Role:

The stately English Renaissance Revival Queen Anne High School was built in 1909, with additions in 1929 and 1955. Declining enrollments forced this high school to close in 1981. Restoration and adaptive reuse of the property were goals of Historic Seattle. The building was converted in 1985 into 139 apartment units with Lorig Associates as developer and Historic Seattle providing packaging and financial assistance. The building is a designated Seattle Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Current and Future Uses:

This project is an example of adaptive reuse of a historic structure providing a livable, high density community near the city’s center.In 2006, the apartments were converted to condos.

 

Photo: Jennifer Tucker

Ruggles/Lucknow Building

Historic Seattle’s Role:

Built in 1900, this Chicago-style warehouse features heavy timber framing and wood-floor decking. With this project in 1985, Historic Seattle created housing in Pioneer Square at a time when little existed. Historic Seattle also provided financing assistance and undertook a portion of the renovation. The building is a contributing resource to the Pioneer Square Historic District. The property was sold with Historic Seattle subordinating its underlying property interests.

Current and Future Uses:

The building mixes moderate-income residential apartments with retail space on the ground floor, adjacent to Waterfall Garden. It was the first housing demonstration project in Pioneer Square.

 

Photo: Jennifer Tucker

Town Hall

Historic Seattle’s Role:

Under Historic Seattle’s guidance in 1998, this Neoclassical Revival style, terra-cotta clad church was transformed in Town Hall, a meeting and performance spaced dedicated to musical, literary, educational, and community uses. In 1997, the congregation of the Fourth Church of Christ Scientist was faced with the possibility of selling to an unsympathetic developer. Historic Seattle completed a feasibility study that supported its use as a meeting and performance space. In 1997, Historic Seattle successfully negotiated a purchase and sale agreement for the property. In 1998, Historic Seattle assigned the purchase rights for the building to Town Hall, LLC, an investor group led by David Brewster.

The former Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist was designated a Seattle Landmark in 2012.

Current and Future Uses:

Today, the venue, known as Town Hall, is maintained and operated as a community and performing arts center by the non-profit group Town Hall Association, and has been undergoing a multi-year process of upgrades and rehabilitation. The building successfully hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year and is a neighborhood and city asset, serving the community by presenting over 410 events to nearly 105,000 audience members.

 

Photo: Historic Seattle Archives

West Queen Anne Elementary School

Historic Seattle’s Role:

This Romanesque-influenced building was originally built in 1896, with additions in 1900, 1902 and 1916. In 1981, due to declining enrollment, the school was forced to close. To ensure the building’s preservation, Historic Seattle acquired the property from the Seattle School District in 1983. West Queen Anne Associates, a limited partnership, implemented an adaptive reuse project completed in 1984 to transform the building into 49 condominium units.

The West Queen Anne Elementary School building was designated a Seattle Landmark in 1977 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Current and Future Uses:

West Queen Anne Elementary School continues to be used as condominiums, and serves as an excellent example of adaptive reuse of a school building.

 

Photo: Jennifer Tucker