Seattle Quilt Building

Seattle, Washington

Historic Seattle building brick restoration.

Originally built in 1905, the name of the building refers to a time in the 1920s when the Seattle Quilt Company, makers of down jackets and sleeping bags, was located in the building. Today, the brick building comprises 34 residential and 8 commercial units and is on the historical registry. Due to its age, the brick exterior needed to be tuckpointed and sealed.

Building Type

Office/Retail/Mixed Use

Scope

Exterior Brick Restoration

The Challenge

The project faced several challenges. All construction work on the building had to be completed without access to the roofs of neighboring buildings. Additionally, the building’s location in the crowded Pioneer Square, one of Seattle’s most popular tourist attractions, presented difficulties due to heavy traffic. This made it difficult to drop off materials, commute to the site, and find parking. Lastly, because of the building’s historic significance, we had to ensure the preservation of its original exterior murals with great care.

The Solution

Charter developed a plan to install a platform, using Bosun’s chairs, on the exterior of the building to gain access to higher elevations. This platform allowed us to set up swing stages that could be used to access the upper floors of the building. During the stucco replacement, the penthouse level was encapsulated to protect the exposed walls from the elements. Cement board stucco was used instead of traditional stucco because it performs better in the cold, wet weather Seattle experiences in the fall and winter months.

Scaffolding had to be set up in an alley, which meant access to the alley had to be coordinated with the building residents and neighboring Seattle Pacific University. The residents stayed in the units throughout the construction process, so extra precautions were taken to ensure their safety. Charter team members kept them apprised of the ongoing construction schedule.