Garries residence
Architect: Olympic Associates
Engineer: Barghausen Consulting Engineers
Owner: Dan and Pam Garries
ABC members: Ascendent LLC, Ketchikan Drywall Services, Lakeridge Plumbing & Mechanical, Matheus Lumber Co., Merit Mechanical, Nuprecon, The Truss Co., Tub Cove Inc., White Cap Industries
S.D. Deacon Corp. of Washington learned about the challenges of the Garries family of Kenmore when the company was asked for a donation to help purchase a van with chair lift to assist then 10-year-old Matthew who was wheelchair bound due to a mitochondrial neurodegenerative disorder.
S.D. Deacon contacted the Garries and quickly realized that their 1960s-vintage home posed many problems for managing Matthew's condition. All bedrooms were on the second floor, including the master where Matthew slept near his parents; a small bathroom served the family of five; the constrictive staircase made carrying Matthew upstairs difficult; and narrow hallways and doorways were too small to accommodate his wheelchair.
In traditional projects, construction teams face challenges of how to manage a budget and solve on-site problems, but, in this unique project, the team also had to find creative solutions to securing enough donations of materials and labor to make the remodel a reality.
A design donated by Olympic Associates expanded the main floor of the home by nearly 1,000 square feet and included a downstairs master suite with an ADA-compliant bathroom and an adjacent medical bedroom for Matthew. A lift/rail system would assist him in and out of bed and into the bathroom. By opening up the existing kitchen into a new family room, the team was able to create a space where Matthew could be monitored and engaged while other family members worked in the kitchen.
After receiving a donation of a civil design from Barghausen Consulting Engineers, S.D. Deacon worked with community groups, Deacon employees and the family's church to raise funds for the project. Partnering with Rebuilding Together Seattle was a turning point for the project, enabling S.D. Deacon to secure tax-deductible donations in the form of labor and materials from subcontractors and equipment suppliers.
The construction team coordinated and scheduled the efforts of nearly 50 different companies and individuals who volunteered some combination of funding, time or materials.
Because the plans required extensive demolition of the house, the family moved into a trailer while house utilities were cut and capped. A large track hoe completed the demolition from the front of the house, reaching over the roof.
After demolition cleanup, S.D. Deacon began work on the new structure of the house. Crews worked throughout the summer to ensure that the building envelope was completed by September.
Crews placed hardwood floors, painted the interior and exterior of the house, and installed a gas fireplace inset, kitchen cabinets, countertops, fixtures and appliances. New landscaping was planted and wheelchair ramps were added to the front and back doors, along with a ramp leading from the front porch to the driveway.
The project's superintendent worked with volunteers to ensure safety compliance, since the volunteer nature of this project meant that usual contractual safeguards did not apply. The workers and volunteers vigilance resulted in no injuries during the 119 hours worked.