Byrd Barr Place Renovation

Byrd Barr Place provides advocacy and human services like housing, food, utility, and financial assistance, operating from a historic fire station built in 1909. The unreinforced masonry and wood building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Seattle landmark. To better serve its clients, the organization decided to renovate the building to include offices, counseling areas, meeting spaces, and a food bank, and brought FSi onto its team.

With the extent of the necessary work, the project qualified as a substantial alteration under Seattle building codes, requiring all building systems, including HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection, to comply with current codes. FSi worked closely with the owner and design team to develop updated systems while preserving the historical features of the building.

Byrd Barr Place can now better fulfill its important community mission in an upgraded building that remains historically relevant.

We love working on renovations and upgrades in historic buildings. For another community-centered landmark, check out our work on Tacoma’s Seymour Conservatory.