PNA Capital Campaign

Overview $30,000 Community Challenge Long Term Vision Blue Building Renovation Donors Donate Now!

Exciting news! As part of the 2012 state capital supplemental budget, the Washington State Legislature approved a Capital supplemental budget that included $995,000 for the PNC Blue Building Renovation! Funding for this investment in public infrastructure comes from bonds, will generate much needed jobs in and around our community and has no impact on the state's operating budget.

The Blue Building Renovation is part of the PNA's Capital Campaign to upgrade both buildings and the site, focusing on safety, accessibility and sustainability. Our vision is to create a living, enduring space that allows people of all ages and abilities to gather together and share their lives, ideas, and experiences, creating a sense of belonging and a deeper commitment to our community. These funds will move that vision closer to reality. We are excited about the possibilities and what this means for our long-term plan.

Once purchase of the Phinney Neighborhood site was complete, our focus for the Capital Campaign became our long-held dream of making the Phinney Center Blue Building accessible and ensuring its safety.

In 2010, the PNA Board of Directors, Site Development Committee and PNA staff worked together to select a team to provide integrated design services for the project. We set our standards high, seeking a team with demonstrated experience with and interest in historic renovations, green building, and nonprofits, as well as a strong design portfolio and history of working well with their clients. Mithun and BN Builders exceeded these criteria.

We have been fortunate to have a talented and motivated group of community leaders, board members and supporters willing to help shepherd this project through design development. They include architects and others with specialties in historic preservation and sustainable design who have met with us throughout the process. Mithun carried out a comprehensive series of interviews with staff representing each PNA program, which informed the design as well. We invited participation through several design sessions and presentations open to the wider community.

Community participation, adoption of the Living Building Challenge in 2008, designation of the Phinney Neighborhood Center as a historic landmark by the City of Seattle in 2008 and our mission of building community gave rise to the design principles for the project:

Respect the integrity of the landmarked structure
Be open to the community
Make it sustainable and provide educational opportunities

The design team has developed a plan that expresses these tenets, meets our programmatic requirements, addresses our sustainability aspirations and is suitable for phased completion.

Architect's rendering of new Phinney Center stairway, entry and community plaza - coming in 2012

Current Plans

While our original plans included a new entryway addition, a tough economy has forced us to be realistic and focus on the most important aspects - safety and accessibility. To accomplish those goals, plans include:

Elevator Installation: We will capture space from a former chimney shaft to allow us to install an in elevator in the Blue Building without losing program space.
Improved Entryway & Plaza: The existing stairway from the Blue Building to the parking lot will be upgraded and improved; a ramp will be added to allow for accessibility to the lower level and a small community plaza will offer a more gracious entry and safety for pedestrians.
Seismic Upgrades: The Blue Building will see substantial improvement to its seismic performance.

We have applied for a permit and expect to begin construction in July 2012.

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Phinney Neighborhood Association, 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 - 206.783.2244
Community Begins Here: www.phinneycenter.org