May 17, 2006
Photo courtesy of Dale Lang
The 1892 First Hill church got a seismic upgrade, and better lighting and acoustics.
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An event on Saturday, titled “Stubborn Faithfulness: the Rehabilitation of Trinity Parish Episcopal Church,” will celebrate renovation of the church following the February 2001 earthquake.
The event will run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and includes a church tour and illustrated lecture by historian Paul Dorpat about the First Hill neighborhood. It will be held at the church at 609 Eighth Ave.
The state Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation has awarded the church an Officer's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Historic Preservation. The award is for projects that are distinct in the field of historic preservation.
The church is a traditional stone masonry and timber building in an English Gothic revival style. It was originally built in 1892 and rebuilt and expanded in 1903 after a fire. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Trinity was badly damaged in the 2001 quake. “We were red-tagged,” said Katherine Sedwich, the church's associate rector, and there were no services at the church for five years.
Bassetti Architects designed the rehabilitation, added to the structure to resist future earthquakes, improved lighting and acoustics, and restored historic finishes.
The church helped fund the $7 million rehabilitation by selling a parking lot it owns kitty-corner from the church. Greystone Communities will develop the 26-level Skyline at First Hill on the parking lot site. The owner is Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest. Construction is set to begin in January. Perkins + Will is the architect, and PCL is the general contractor.
“We couldn't have gone ahead with our project without having made this arrangement,” said Sedwick.
Other members of the rehabilitation team were general contractor Rafn Co., URS Engineering and Quantum Consulting Engineers.
