Good Shepherd Center Voluntary Seismic Retrofit Project
Project Mission
The Main Building and South Annex of the Good Shepherd Center (GSC) were both constructed in an era when unreinforced masonry buildings (URM), in which brick structures carry gravity loads but no steel is present to strengthen structural connections during seismic events, were common practice. Today, the City of Seattle strongly encourages, and will soon require, seismic retrofitting of these URM buildings. To protect our tenants and this historically significant site, Historic Seattle has elected to begin the seismic retrofit process now. We appreciate your cooperation and support in our efforts to make the Good Shepherd Center a safe and welcoming place for all.
Existing Conditions
The Main Building is divided into thirds with a south, central, and north wing. Each wing is divided by a firewall extending the entire height and width of the building. The Main Building is constructed of unreinforced masonry and is subject to our voluntary seismic retrofit project. The South Annex, assumed to be constructed shortly after the main building, is a single-story structure consisting primarily of concrete masonry units (CMU) walls with some unreinforced masonry exterior walls. Like the Main Building, the South Annex is subject to our voluntary seismic retrofit project. The North Annex, designed in 1953, consists of a two-story building with solid, reinforced brick masonry unit walls on the east and west facades of the building and tilt-up concrete panels providing shear resistance to the north and south facades. The North Annex does not require any seismic retrofit.
Project Team
The following firms and individuals are key members of our project team:
Architect: BuildingWork-Matt Aalfs, Elise Novak
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Faget-Dan Say, Zane Kanyer
Testing: Otto Rosenau-Judy Rosenau-Payseno, Christopher Pratt
Hazardous Materials Testing: Migizi Group-Doug Henry
Cost Estimation: RC Cost Group-Andy Cluness, Mark Richardson
Project Summary
To help protect the occupants of the building, Historic Seattle is conducting a voluntary seismic retrofit of this important property. Historic Seattle first hired structural engineers, Swenson Say Faget, to analyze the existing structural condition of the buildings. We then conducted exploratory demolition and hired Otto Rosenau to conduct load-testing of specific structural attachment points throughout the buildings to verify seismic status and load capacity.
Once this testing was completed, we assembled a Good Shepherd Center Seismic Retrofit Advisory Board tasked with helping Historic Seattle interview and select a project architect. The group selected BuildingWork, a local firm with extensive experience in seismically retrofitting historic, community structures. BuildingWork utilized our preliminary structural analysis and created a schematic design, which was used for a preliminary cost estimate. This estimate provided the necessary information to develop a project budget, and Historic Seattle began our fundraising efforts. Once funds were secured, BuildingWork created a more detailed set of drawings and applied for and received a building permit from the City of Seattle.Before we finalized our grant contracts to be used to fund the project, we hired RC Cost Group to conduct an updated cost estimate. Historic Seattle then was able to define the first phase of construction more accurately. Our first phase will consist of a full seismic retrofit of the South Annex, out-of-plane anchorage on the fourth and fifth floors of the building, and installation of steel “strong backs” within the Good Shepherd Center former chapel space.
Project Bidding Schedule
Bid Package Distribution: March 5, 2024
Pre-bid walk-through (not mandatory): March 12, 2024 – 10 am, Room 202, Good Shepherd Center (4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Seattle); a second walk-through date TBD
Bid opening: March 26, 2024 – Dearborn House (1117 Minor Ave, Seattle)
Bidding Information
Questions about the bidding process? Contact David McClain, Historic Seattle’s Director of Real Estate, at davidm@historicseattle.org or 206.622.6952, ext 228.
Advertisement for Bids (PDF)
Seismic Retrofit Bidder Package (click to download zip drive containing 15 separate PDF files)
Bid Plans (PDF – 20 MB file)
Bid Set Addendum #1 (PDF) – issued March 18, 2024
Bid Set Addendum #2 (PDF) – issued March 21, 2024
Bid Set Addendum #3 (PDF) – issued March 25, 2024
Construction Schedule
We expect construction to first take place in the South Annex from June 24, 2024 through August 12, 2024. The overall construction window is 180 calendar days from the June 24 start date.
Funders
Historic Seattle would like to thank and recognize our generous funders for this important project:
4Culture
Raynier Institute and Foundation
Washington State Historical Society’s Heritage Capital Projects program
City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
FEMA
Murdock Trust
Norcliffe Foundation
Joshua Green Foundation
Additional Information
GSC All Tenants – Scope of Work Presentation (PDF)
GSC All Tenants – FAQs (PDF)
Regulated Materials Survey (PDF)
Image: BuildingWork