University Heights Center Window Restoration

University Heights Center Window Restoration

Best Preservation Practice Award

Marpac Construction crew restoring windows / Photo: UHCCA

Address: 5031 University Way NE

Supporting Partners: University Heights Center for the Community Association; Johnson Architecture & Planning; Marpac Construction

The former University Heights School is a Seattle Landmark built in 1902/1907 and designed by prominent architects Charles Bebb and Louis Mendel. The firm of Bebb & Mendel designed more than 200 buildings during its 14-year partnership. The Mission Revival style University Heights School was an elementary school that served the University District and other neighborhoods for over 85 years. The Seattle School District closed the school due to failing enrollment. Unfortunately, the building also suffered deferred maintenance for more than thirty years.

In 1989, the University Heights Center for the Community Association (UHCCA) was created to preserve the building as a permanent neighborhood resource and took over property management from the Seattle School District. For the next 20 years, UHCCA and neighbors looked for a way to preserve the building permanently. In 2009 UHCCA acquired the property with the help of the City of Seattle, King County, and the State of Washington. Shortly after acquisition, UHCCA hired Johnson Architecture and Planning to complete a window survey and make recommendations for restoration, particularly on the exterior. The wood (Douglas fir) is extremely high quality, clear, vertical grain. Survey findings showed no windows were in “excellent” condition on the exterior due to past lack of maintenance.

University Heights Center after window restoration / Photo: Eugenia Woo

In 2010, restoration grants from 4Culture, American Express, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation financed reglazing, repair of weights and ropes, sealing of sill flashing, and restoration of frames which showed evidence of dry rot. The window restoration project followed the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

In 2010, the former University Heights School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The project team for the University Heights Center received a 2011 Best Preservation Practice award for a window restoration project that serves as an excellent model for the treatment of historic properties.