West Queen Anne High School: Then and Now
Courtesy Larry Kreisman, Historic Seattle and West Queen Anne Condominium Association
Built over a century ago, the West Queen Anne School is a historic landmark - a crowning glory to Seattle’s past, perched atop Queen Anne. Originally an elementary school, the building was converted in 1984 to condominiums and serves as a national model for the salvaging of historic properties into modern living spaces.
Living here means living in stewardship with the past, and building on it’s legacy of craftsmanship. The building’s Historic Landmark status and West Queen Anne Condominium Association ensure that the building’s architectural integrity and elegant gardens remain a local and national treasure.
HISTORY
Designed by Warren P. Skillings and James M. Corner in the popular Richardson Romanesque style, construction of the Queen Anne School began in 1895 and classes opened in the fall of 1896. In keeping with the original expandable design, as the neighborhood grew, so did the school, and classrooms were added in 1899 and again in 1902.
The school’s original entrance was on the south side facing Lee Street. Following the addition of ten classrooms and an auditorium on the south side in 1916, the main entrance was moved to the north side on Galer Street.
The last major addition to the school was the principal’s office in 1920, located at what is now the southwest corner of the circular driveway.
In 1908 the name of the school was changed to West Queen Anne Elementary School to avoid confusion with Queen Anne High School, then under construction.
In 1974, Seattle School District staff recommended closing the school due to declining enrollment. A grassroots movement of parents, teachers and local residents worked together to keep the school open. Part of that effort was nominating the building for historic status. In 1975, the structure became the first Seattle school placed on the National Register of Historic Places, thus ensuring the building’s preservation. Two years later, it became a City of Seattle landmark. The school remained open until 1981.
In 1983, the Seattle School District gave Historic Seattle, a public development authority for historic preservation, a 99 year land lease on the school’s 1.76 acre property, with an option to renew for another 99 years. Historic Seattle conveyed the building and land lease to West Queen Anne Associates, a limited partnership formed for the express purpose of building renovation. In 1983, the firm of Cardwell/Thomas and Associates, Architects began the process of renovating the school into forty-nine condominium units. Its conversion from classrooms to condominiums in 1984 was the largest privately financed rehabilitation and reuse project of its type in the Northwest and has become a national model for salvaging surplus schools.
The gym’s Private entrance ON Lee Street.
“West Queen Anne School condos continue the legacy of Seattle’s past, while forging its own path into the future. It is a historic gem in a storied neighborhood.”
one of two large, private patios
Queen Anne is known for its stately homes and historic addresses
