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| The front of the Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant Complex along Fairview Ave. | The west face of the structure, built in 1913 and designed by architect John Graham Sr. |
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| South face of the building with some old windows bricked in. | North face of the building. |
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| Close-up show ing brick still in great condition. | Close-up of North face. |
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| The trim work on the building contrast the simplicity of the brick. | Looking up at brick and window detail. |
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| Northwest edge of the building. | This photo is just here to show the female in the car. Nice feet! |
Profile: Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant
April 17th, 2008 @ 2:02 am by Cliffe | Sorted Historic Buildings |
Heading down Fairview Ave toward Lake Union you’ll find one of the city’s finest examples of industrial age architecture in the Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant (now Public Storage). It was designed by architect John Graham Sr and constructed in 1913. Model T’s were assembled at the plant for years and in 1932 operations moved to another location in the city. In 1998, the building was designated a City Of Seattle Landmark. The elegant simplicity of the building reminds me of what Sabey is trying to do with the new Ice House Building in Georgetown. I think that with just a few more details near the top of the building, they could be there. Is it driving anyone else nuts how close they are to a modern day classic building? Anyway, here are the photos.
I love this site! I live near the Ford Plant and love seeing the building everyday. If you’d like, here is a shot I took of the building at night….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathanhanlonphotography/2213927572/in/set-72157603983720671
Great shot.
Cliffe
Mr. Graham designed the one in Dallas too. It is now known as the Adam Hats Building. I suspect he also did the one in Oklahoma City now own by the Fred Jones Company. All the buildings are very similar with a few minor changes.
Fourty years ago Pacific Northwest Bell had a training center on the second floor of that building – I know because I took some training there in the early ’70s.
(I seem to recall Craftsman Press being in the building, to…)
I always thought the building was a truly beautiful design, and kept hoping that someday it would be rescued and restored.
These days it seems to be looking pretty good.
Thanks for this blog and all the pictures and information – I believe I’ve been here about three hours so far…
Tom
My car was built in that building on September 21,1928. It is a Model “A” Ford Sport Coupe. The stamping on the body center cross member is AS 164. This means Assembly Seattle and my car was 164th Model A Ford to be assembled there. This building was not a factory in the true sense. All components were sent to the Plant and then automobiles were assembled. # 164 seems to be a very low number considering September is in the latter quarter of the production year. But it does make sense because the Plant was not up and running until sometime in August, 1928. which says it took considerable time to remove all of the Model T equipment and then gear up with the new equipment and line to build the all new Ford, the Model A. I purchased my car on Nov. 5, 1962 in Carmichael, Ca. (suberb of Sacramento) for $130.00 and it did run. It was in pretty bad shape. I was 15 years old so had to have a friend drive it home for me to Davis, Ca. I just celebrated my 48th year of continous ownership of the car. It is the first car I ever owned. It is still quite nice today but the restoration is showing signs of age. I drive my car, it is not a show car. I am now 64 years old in late February, 2011. Ron Whitworth, Oregon City, OR.