Another Seattle Center Landmark: The Playhouse, The Exhibition Hall and More!

For the Queen Anne Historical Society, the designation by the Landmarks Preservation Board of a new Queen Anne landmark is always a wonderful day. We are, therefore, tickled pink to share the news that a broad swath of historic buildings along the south side of Mercer Street made the list on September 20, 2023. 

The Fine Arts Pavilion as it was called in 1962. Looking south. Photo: Leanne Goulding 2023.

Known by many names, the new landmarks includes the Multi-Purpose Auditorium Group (now Cornish College of the Arts Playhouse), the Fine Arts Pavilion (later the Exhibition Hall and additionally now Phelps Center), the Colonnades linking the two buildings on their north and south elevations and Presidential Plaza (now Founders Court), the space between them. The group is the work of Kirk, Wallace, McKinley & Associates, Architects with B. Marcus Priteca, as the theater consultant.  

Designed for the 1962 Century 21 Exposition that transformed 75 acres of lower Queen Anne into a successful world's fair, the buildings are described in the nomination by Katie Pratt and Spencer Howard of Northwest Vernacular as reflecting the New Formalist architectural style.

Looking east from Presidential Plaza (Founders Court} with sculptural fountain, colonnades and folded plates (roof) of New Formalism style. Circular design dates from ca. 1990 as I remember it. Photo: Leanne Goulding, 2023.

New Formalism embraced Classical elements, “such as scale and proportion, symmetry, and the use of columns and colonnades—while utilizing modern materials and new building technology and forms. New forms employed on New Formalist buildings included umbrella shells, waffle slabs, and folded plates. Civic New Formalist buildings often had a grand scale and might be elevated on a raised podium. Rich, traditional materials such as granite and travertine (or man-made materials to mimic them) were typically utilized as well as brick and cast stone. The structure on New Formalist buildings was often highlighted, particularly on the exterior and frequently on the interior.  The colonnades running along the north and south facades of the Playhouse and Fine Arts Pavilion are clear hallmarks of New Formalism. The folded plate roof of the Fine Arts Pavilion, along with the smooth appearing wall surfaces of both buildings, are also elements of the style. The interior structures of both buildings are prominent in the Playhouse’s lobby and upper level of the Fine Arts Pavilion.” (www.seattle.gov/lpbcurrentnom_scplayhouse.pdf, page 44)

The nomination form just cited provides all the details about the buildings, their history and the city’s struggles to find uses for them in the post fair period. While still rarely used, the Exhibition Hall below the PNB’s Phelps Center hosts special events and exhibits. The Phelps Center itself was an undeveloped air space. The Multi-Purpose Auditorium Group known as The Playhouse after 1962 has had multiple tenants including Intiman Theatre and today’s Cornish School for the Arts. 

Looking northwest across the exquisite colonnaded courtyard at the Playhouse with the Fountain of the Northwest by James FitzGerald 1961. Photo Author 2023

Personally, I am pleased that the courtyard at the Playhouse is now protected. It is a beautiful space that echoes the colonnades specifically called out in the designation and contains important sculptures by Seattle artists. The courtyard, like pools designed by Minoru Yamasaki at the Pacific Science Center, provides a tranquil retreat from the hurly burly of Seattle Center. 

Barbet by James W. Washington, Jr., 1964. The delightful sculpture of a bird hides in the foliage by the historic benches surrounding the courtyard’s fountain. Photo Author 2023

Marvelous View from the courtyard balcony off of Second Ave. N. across the fountain, through the colonnades past the Fine Arts Pavilion to McCaw Hall. Photo Author 2023

The buildings east of the new landmark group, Seattle Opera’s new digs at 4th Avenue N. and Marion O. McCaw Hall, are among Seattle Center’s newest additions. They replaced the Arena and the Civic Auditorium, both of which provided significant impetus to the selection of those 75 Lower Queen Anne acres for Century 21. Ironically, the oldest structure at Seattle Center, the concrete frame of the Civic Auditorium, was built in 1928 and reused to hold up McCaw Hall.

The Queen Anne Historical Society has long lobbied for the designation of the historic buildings at Seattle Center. I am pleased that the work is nearly done. Queen Anne now (10/3/2023) has 52 city landmarks.  Find out about the others here!.