Clark Hall Clark UW/Vulcan/Express/Smith Tower

Smith Tower, once the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi, faces a condo conversion.

Historic UW Building to Seek Silver LEED Rating

Seattle – Clark Hall, one of the oldest buildings on the University of Washington campus, will be renovated into an eco-friendly classroom structure designed to achieve a LEED Silver rating. The renovation is expected to begin in fall 2007.

Completed in 1899 and occupied in early 1900, Clark Hall is the fourth oldest building on the campus and the original women’s dormitory. It was later converted into the first student union and since 1952 has housed the instructional programs for the Navy, Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and general university classrooms.

The renovation, budgeted at a total cost of $15.5 million, will include seismic upgrades, accessibility improvements, classroom modernizations, renovation of the now-condemned attic space and restoration of two turrets at the front of the building.

Absher Construction Co. of Puyallup is the general contractor/construction manager and Peter Meijer Architect LLC the historical renovation consultant. Other project team members include ARUP, mechanical and electrical engineering; Coughlin Porter Lundeen, civil and structural engineering, and Site Workshop, landscape architect.

Condos Started Near Lake Union

Seattle - Vulcan Real Estate has started construction on two new condominium projects located in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. Veer Lofts, a 72,500 sq. ft. project on 9th Avenue and Harrison Street, includes 99 lofts geared towards first-time homebuyers. Rollin Street, a 240,000 sq. ft. building is expected to open in early spring 2009.

Express Completes Work At Local Restaurant

Seattle - Express Construction Company recently completed major tenant improvements for Tavolàta, a restaurant in Seattle ’s Belltown neighborhood. Casual but urban, Tavolàta is a modern space with an open kitchen, communal table and a mezzanine. The owners chose Express as the contractor for the renovation of this 1920’s era building after working with them to complete Union in November of 2003. Express built the 20 foot by 21 foot mezzanine and stairway on the main level and built offices, the prep kitchen and storage in the 2000 sq. ft. basement and worked with a number of artists and the owners to complete the finishes.

Express Construction was the genera l contractor and did the majority of the build out and worked with several creative people the owners hired to do interior work. Jacob & Lucas Mihoulides, local artists, designed and built the booths, banquet, candle holders and custom lighting, including an impressive 30-foot chandelier.

Smith Tower May Go From Offices to Condos

Seattle - Walton Street Capital may change the use of Smith Tower from commercial to residential. Built by typewriter maker Lyman C. Smith for $1.5 million, Smith Tower opened in the summer of 1914. Smith is known for Smith-Corona typewriters. The tower is an architectural landmark and the signature skyscraper that began Seattle’s skyline. At 462 feet, Smith Tower was the fourth tallest building in the world when it opened.

Walton Street Capital is a Chicago-based investment firm, and Smith Tower is being managed by a local operating team.