John Graham & Company began with the work of John Graham, Sr., who established himself as an architect in Seattle during the early 1900s. He formed a number of partnerships before establishing himself as Graham & Painter. His son, John Graham, Jr. also studied architecture and eventually joined his father's practice. Graham & Painter became John Graham & Company during the 1940s and continued until John Graham, Jr. retired from practice in 1986. After his retirement in 1986, John Graham & Company architect Rodney Kirkwood merged the company with the DLR Group to form DLR/John Graham Associates.
John Graham, Sr. was born in Liverpool, England. He acquired his professional architectural skills in England through apprenticeship training. He moved to Seattle to establish himself as an architect in 1901, following a period of extensive travels that included a visit to the Puget Sound region. He briefly partnered with Alfred Bodley in 1904, before forming a partnership with David J. Myers in 1905. The partnership, Graham & Myers lasted from 1905 until 1910. Graham & Myers designed several apartment buildings, the Kenney Presbyterian Home, and several pavilions for the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition.
After separating from Myers, Graham started his own practice in 1910. His earliest works from this era include the Joshua Green Building (1913); and the Ford Assembly Plant in Lake Union (1913). He worked as a supervising architect for many of Ford's buildings, opening an office in Detroit from 1914 to 1918. His works over the next decade were mainly commercial buildings characterized by classical elements and terracotta ornamentation, including the Frederick & Nelson department store building (1916-1918); the Dexter Horton Building (1921-1924); and an early branch of the Bank of California, (1923-1924).
Graham became very adept in the Art Deco style, designing several Art Deco buildings in Seattle, including the Roosevelt Hotel (1928-1929); the Exchange Building (1929-1931); the Bon Marche store (1928-1929); and, together with Bebb & Gould, the U. S. Marine Hospital campus (1931-1934). Graham formed a partnership with William L. Painter as Graham & Painter from 1936 until 1942. At the same time, John Graham's son, John Graham, Jr., joined the firm's office in New York. Once his son returned to Seattle in 1946, Graham began to transfer his practice to his son until his death in Hong Kong in 1955.
John Graham, Jr. began his architectural training at the University of Washington in 1926 before transferring to Yale University where he received his B.F.A. in 1931. After a brief time in statistical merchandising for retail establishments, Graham joined his father's successful architectural practice in 1937, opening a branch office in New York City with William Painter as partner. The office, Graham & Painter, New York, lasted from 1936 until 1942, and focused on department store design. After World War II began, business declined and Graham closed the branch and began to design war housing and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) housing that included Washington DC's Suburban Heights (1944); and Sunny Brook (1942); as well as Edgewater Park in Seattle (1939).
Graham returned to Seattle in 1946, eventually taking over his father's architectural practice. Under John Graham, Jr., the firm designed over 1,000 commercial projects that included the Washington Natural Gas Headquarters (1964), and the Westin Towers in Seattle (1969). Perhaps most famously, John Graham and Company specialized in the design of large shopping malls, designing over seventy multi-million dollar shopping centers that included Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle (1950); and Capitol Court in Milwaukee (1957); Lloyd Center in Portland (1960); and the Ala Moana in Honolulu (1960). These regional shopping centers were the first of their kind in the country and Graham is widely credited with the design of the modern shopping mall.
Graham was licensed to practice architecture in ten states. After partnering with Roderick Kirkwood in 1974, the firm went on to complete the Bank of California Building in Seattle (1974); the Wells Fargo building in San Francisco (1966); the Alaska State Office Building in Juneau (1975-1975); and the Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma (1984-1986). His most well-known project, however, is the design and execution of the Space Needle he developed with Victor Steinbrueck and John Ridley for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. Graham retired in 1986, five years before his death in 1991.
Collection is arranged in two series: Architectural drawings and models, and Photographs. The Architectural drawings and models series is further divided into subseries by architectural firm name with projects listed alphabetically within each firm. Photographs pertain mostly to the work of John Graham and Company under John Graham, Jr. and have been arranged alphabetically.
The collection consists of architectural drawings and photographs of Pacific Northwest buildings designed by Seattle-based architect John Graham, his son, John Graham, Jr., and their firm John Graham and Company. Project records include the Bank of California buildings, the Exchange Building, the Heffernan Building, the Space Needle, and multiple shopping malls. Proposal drawings for buildings never built and a limited number of projects from outside the Pacific Northwest region are also included.
Access is restricted: for terms of access, contact Special Collections.
Restrictions might exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Selections of collection available on digital site. Contact the repository for details.
The bulk of materials were donated to the University of Washington Special Collections by John Graham Associates, December 15, 1986. United Pine Center Corporation drawings and drawings for R. H. Boyle and L. M. Newman were donated by TRA in 1990.
Architectural drawings and photographs of architectural drawings and models processed by Kelly Daviduke. Photographs processed by Erin Berg and Kelly Daviduke. Processing completed in 2012.
The Carl Gould Architectural Drawings Collection contains projects completed by Carl Gould and his partner Charles Bebb that may include work by John Graham, Sr. Identified projects have been included for reference in this collection's inventory list.
The University of Washington Department of Architecture Student Drawings collection (PH Coll 740) contains student assignments completed by John Graham, Jr. during his freshman year at the University of Washington, 1926-1927.
The Architectural Drawings of Frederick and Nelson Collection (PH Coll 1272) contains work from John Graham, Sr., and John Graham & Company.
This subseries contains the earliest projects from John Graham, Sr., completed during his partnership with David Myers. The partnership lasted from 1905-1910 with Myers serving as the principal designer. The partnership focused on work in the Seattle area that included apartment buildings, religious structures, and several pavilions for the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. After the partnership dissolved, Myers worked with David Shack as Shack & Myers, and Arrigo M. Young as Shack, Young & Myers. Later drawings from David Myers are described in the Guide to the TRA Drawings.
Alternate name: Howard Block.
Three drawings include a plan of the ground floor, which shows six stores arranged side-by-side in a single building on a city block with notes about footing and ceiling; exterior side and front elevations; longitudinal section drawing through building and entrance; and detail drawings of ceiling joists.
Plan shows two stores arranged side-by-side with an adjacent bakehouse in an urban building; block plan; exterior elevation of side and storefront; section drawing through storefront; longitudinal section drawing through building.
Drawings contained in the John Graham, Sr. subseries include several commercial projects that were built in Seattle and Tacoma, as well as additional proposal and conceptual drawings. Three of the projects included in this subseries were designed for the United Pacific Realty & Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of the United National Corporation. These projects include the Exchange Building, Pine Street Center, and the Rhodes Medical Arts Building in Tacoma.
Rendering of art deco building exterior.
One photograph of the Bon Marche department store is described in the Photographs series.
Partial set of architecture drawings includes a basement floor plan, first floor plan with finish schedule, longitudinal and transverse section drawings through building, door elevations, details of mill work, window schedule, and schedule of materials.
Detail drawing of carved panels on 2nd floor; drawing is marked void.
Alternate name: United Exchange Building.
Three photographs of the Exchange Building are described in the Photographs series.
Incomplete set of drawings includes multiple floor plans and a section drawing of building. Drawings are reproductions of the original 1929 drawings and are dated 1976 by handwritten note in margin.
The Exchange Building was designed by John Graham, Sr. in 1929. The building was originally designed to house the Seattle Stock Exchange, but was adapted for office use after the stock market crash. The building was designated as a Historic Landmark by the Seattle Preservation Board in 1990. The Exchange Building was one of several buildings that John Graham, Sr., designed for the United Pacific Realty & Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of the United National Corporation.
Alternate name: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Building.
The two-story Gothic Revival style Heffernan Building was designed by John Graham Sr. in 1928-1929. The building was occupied by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer from the mid-1930s until the late 1940s.
One exterior elevation of the Heffernan building shows a multi-story building with terracotta ornamentation. An alternate elevation is available with the reproduction drawings.
Street-view perspective drawing by H. Percy Sharpe; one exterior elevation.
Drawings for the building on Pine Street between Fourth and Westlake Avenues include multiple plans, exterior elevations, detail drawings, mechanical plans, electrical plans, section drawings, and material schedules. Plans include basement plan, first floor, second floor, third floor, mezzanine floor, framing plan, and roof plan. Exterior elevations show entrance ornamentation and window casework. Schedules include the finish/door schedule and first floor beam schedule. Detail drawings of entrance, ornamentation, stairs, and marquee sign.
Pine Street Center was designed as a shopping center, located in the retail district between the Bon Marche and the Frederick and Nelson department stores. Although the building opened with two stories and a basement, John Graham, Sr. designed the building so that it could accommodate an additional four stories. The building was constructed by Chrisman and Snyder and was finished with a cast-stone exterior and unusual cantilevered walls that allowed for large, unobstructed display windows. Pine Street Center was one of several buildings that John Graham, Sr., designed for the United Pacific Realty & Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of the United National Corporation.
Exterior elevations show the North elevation, South elevation, Market Street elevation, and St. Helens Avenue elevation; transverse section drawing through building. This is an incomplete set with drawings numbered 10-12.
The Rhodes Medical Arts Building was dedicated in 1931. At the time of its construction, the 17-story art deco building was the tallest building in Tacoma, and the first full-service medical center in the city. The building was designed by John Graham, Sr., Architect & Engineer, and Heath, Gove & Bell, Associate Architects, Tacoma, for the United Rhodes Realty Corporation. The building was purchased for use as a city hall by the City of Tacoma in 1977 and, after subsequent remodeling, it was renamed Tacoma Municipal Building in 1981. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The Rhodes Medical Arts Building was one of several buildings that John Graham, Sr., designed for the United Pacific Realty & Investment Corporation, a subsidiary of the United National Corporation.
Photographs of the Rhodes Medical Arts Building are described in the Photographs series.
Rendering of building's exterior shows the hotel building with art deco ornamentation.
Rendering of a unidentified building with terracotta ornamentation on a sloped site. Attributed to John Graham, Sr.
Rendering of a unidentified skyscraper by artist Norman Fox. Possibly a conceptual or proposal drawing. Attributed to John Graham, Sr.
Rendering/elevation drawing of an unidentified multi-story building with terracotta ornamentation. Attributed to John Graham, Sr.
Two projects have been identified as part of the Carl Could architectural drawings collection that have been presented here for reference. Since the firm of Bebb & Gould is primarily associated with these projects, drawings pertaining to these projects can be found in the Carl Could architectural drawings collection.
While continuing to operate his independent practice, John Graham, Sr. worked in association with the firm of Bebb and Gould on several projects during the early 1930s. The United States Public Health Marine Hospital, designed by Bebb & Gould with John Graham as an associate, is considered to be one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the Northwest.
The United States Post Office in Longview was designed by Bebb & Gould with assistance from John Graham and Company. Construction began in 1932 on the post office, a red brick building with white facing, decorative flagpoles, and columns.
The sixteen-story art deco United States Public Health Marine Hospital in Beacon Hill, Seattle, was designed by Bebb & Gould with assistance from John Graham and Company. The building was designed from 1930-1933 and originally housed 312 beds to serve U.S. Armed Forces veterans, merchant seamen, U.S. Light House Service personnel and the poor. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and later designated as a Seattle City Landmark in 1992.
John Graham, Sr. worked with Benjamin Marcus Priteca to design the Sand Point Housing Project during World War II. Marcus Priteca continuously maintained his own independent architectural practice as Marcus Priteca, Architect, 1911-c.1964. It is believed that the names as they appear on the drawing indicate the collaboration between the two architects rather than an actual practice.
One photographic print of a site plan showing a housing project with several multi-unit residential buildings arranged around courtyards on a loop road.
The Sand Point Housing Project was developed from 1940-1941 for the United States Housing Authority Aided Defense Project and the Housing Authority of Seattle. John Graham, Sr. and Marcus Priteca, operating as Graham and Priteca, completed the design that included 150 units of housing for enlisted men at the Naval Air Station. Graham and Priteca completed the design with Seattle landscape architects E. Clair Heilman and Noble Hoggson.
Photographs of the housing units at Sand Point are described in the Photographs series.
The partnership formed between John Graham and William Painter as Graham & Painter operated in Seattle and New York City during the late 1930s. As the economy improved, John Graham, Jr. separated from his career in retail merchandising and business, joining his father's practice in New York in 1937. After World War II broke out, John Graham, Jr. separated again to focus on war housing and FHA financed housing projects on the East Coast. Graham, Sr. and Painter continued without the younger, focusing on commercial projects in urban settings in a variety of styles, including the streamline Coca-Cola Bottling Plant on First Hill in Seattle, 1939, described in the Photographs series.
Four different street-view renderings of a department store building with covered sidewalk in an urban setting. Differing views show the building in the art deco streamline moderne style, art deco style, neoclassical style, and early modernist style. Only one building has "Jordan Marsh" written over the entrance.
Attributed to John Graham, Sr. However, both John Graham, Sr. and John Graham, Jr. worked with William Painter as Graham and Painter, 1938-1942.
John Graham & Company evolved from John Graham, Sr.'s architecture practice, which began in 1910. After finishing his studies at Yale University, John Graham, Jr. joined his father's practice in New York in 1942. From 1942 until 1946, the two Grahams worked in separate offices in Seattle and New York. Once his son returned to Seattle in 1946, John Graham, Sr. began to transfer his practice to his son until his death in Hong Kong in 1955.
Drawings contained in the John Graham & Company subseries are primarily associated with the work that John Graham, Jr. and the John Graham & Company firm did while John Graham, Jr. operated as managing partner. However, some earlier drawings during the time the two father and son's work overlapped in Seattle as John Graham & Company, from 1946 until 1955, cannot be exclusively attributed to either Graham with the available information. Drawings after John Graham, Sr.'s death in 1955 are attributed to the firm under John Graham, Jr. These drawings include proposal drawings, construction drawings, and architectural renderings, some available by photographic reproduction, with many by architectural delineators Earle Duff and Ken Duffin. Under John Graham, Jr., the firm grew substantially with offices throughout the United States and Canada, though the largest offices were based in Seattle and New York City.
Project records in this subseries may contain records and designs from his partners and associates that can only be identified from the drawings as John Graham & Company. Architects who may be associated with these projects include Manson Bennett, Henry A. Birner, Arthur E. Edwards, Jack Follett, Alan Gerard, Alvin B. Harrison, Roderick Kirkwood, Ivar Paulsen, James E. Jackson, John Ridley, and Nathan Wilkinson, Jr.
Alternate name: American Life Insurance Company building.
One photographic print providing an exterior view of the AIA Company's Karachi building is described in the Photographs series.
Photographic reproductions of drawings show the multi-story office building with entrance plaza. Drawings include a basement plan with parking and storage; ground floor plan; typical floor plan; and exterior elevations of the building on Somerset Street and Inverarity Road.
Four photographic reproductions of drawings show the multi-story office building with entrance plaza. Drawings include an early basement plan with parking and storage and a proposed access road; ground floor plan; typical floor plan; and exterior elevations of the building on Somerset Street and Inverarity Road.
Ten photographs of the Ala Moana site with shopping center, hotel, and office building are described in the Photographs series.
Color photograph with black and white duplicate of an architectural rendering showing the site at the intersection of Atkinson Drive and Kona Street with two tall hotel towers atop a plaza with pools and parking garage. These are possibly early proposal drawings for the Ala Moana Hotel, later designed by John Graham, Jr., at the same intersection atop a similar plaza with parking garage.
Reproduction print of an architectural rendering of the entrance lobby at the Ala Moana office building. Drawing is attributed to illustrator Kempe.
Alternate name: Windows.
La Ronde, the world's first revolving restaurant, was designed by John Graham, Jr. in 1961. The restaurant was constructed atop the Ala Moana Office Building in Waikiki. Subsequent to the restaurant's success, Graham obtained the first U.S. Patent for a revolving restaurant in 1964. The 4,288 square foot revolving restaurant was converted into a stationary office penthouse in 2000.
Graphite rendering of the restaurant's interior with dining tables includes a small partial rendering of the exterior profile of the revolving restaurant in upper right corner. A second rendering, by Kempe, shows the revolving restaurant atop the Ala Moana Office Building with mall-level parking and a multi-lane ramp to the street.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering shows the interior of the windowed La Ronde restuaurant with several tables overlooking a volcano.
Two black and white aerial photographs that have been altered to show the site for the Ala Moana hotel and office building. In one photo, white has been added on an aerial survey to show an altered landscape, while the other photograph has hand-drawn buildings transferred onto the image that show what the site would look like with the additional shopping center and towers at Atkinson and Kona.
Fourteen photographic prints of architectural drawings that provide exterior elevations of the building from all sides, plan of entrance plaza and state library, and plans of upper levels that include offices for education, administration, economic development, natural resources, public works, commerce, revenue, and a roof/site plan.
The Alaska State Office Building was designed by John Graham & Company, Seattle and Anchorage, with Linn Forrest, Juneau. The building would include four floors of parking for 250 cars, a large landscaped exterior plaza, glass-enclosed state library, and several floors of offices arranged around a skylit inner plaza. The building offered views of the mountains, Gastineau Channel, and nearby Douglas Island. Construction on the building was completed in 1973.
Two contact sheets and one photograph of the Alaska State Office Building are described in the Photographs series.
One color photograph of a rendering by artist Ken Duffin that shows a multi-story building with pool and marina in a forested setting with buildings set among the trees.
The historic Alderbrook Inn was built in 1913 on the Hood Canal in Union, Washington. After extensive improvements after World War II, the resort came to be known for its typical Pacific Northwest architecture. The resort underwent extensive renovation in 2002, opening again in 2004. The main lodge of the Alderbrook Inn was demolished at this time and rebuilt, however, sixteen cottages from the original Alderbrook Inn resort property remained and were upgraded into luxury cottages. This drawing was likely intended as a proposal drawing, as no connection between John Graham & Company and the Alderbrook Inn can be identified.
Aerial rendering of site.
Two photographs of architectural renderings of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority house at the University of Washington. The renderings include one of the multi-story residential building and an additional rendering of the same building, dated 1952, with changes to the roof, added balconies, stone facing, bay window, and expanded entrance.
The Alpha Chi Omega sorority house, designed by John Graham & Company, was constructed in 1956 by the E. F. Shuck Construction Company. The sorority house provided accomodations for 54 girls and featured a stone and redwood exterior and glass-enclosed stairwell.
See item A110.
Alternate name: Asbury United Methodist Church.
Pen and ink perspective drawing of church's exterior. The Asbury United Methodist Church was constructed in 1954.
Alternate names: Union Bank of California Building; 901 5th Avenue.
The Bank of California Building was constructed between 1971 and 1974. The building was one of the first skyscrapers in downtown Seattle and helped establish the downtown financial district around Fourth Avenue and Madison Avenue. The original design by John Graham and Associates used Seattle firm Terry & Egan for the interiors of the building. The name and address of the building was changed to 901 5th Avenue after the sale of the building to Kennedy Wilson, Inc. of Beverly Hills, California.
One photograph of the downtown Seattle Bank of California Building is described in the Photographs series. Additional aerial photographs that have been altered by hand to show the Bank of California along with other buildings developed by Pentagram Corporation are described under "Pentagram Corporation."
Three drawings include one rendering/perspective drawing of the building's exterior, and two proposed color schemes with furniture layouts for the ladies' room and the employee lounge and dining room. The proposed color scheme with furniture layout drawings include furnishing plans, multiple furniture designs, and elevations of window treatments.
One color photographic print of a street-view rendering of the Bank of California building exterior by Earle Duff.
Eight photographic prints of architectural drawings provide exterior elevations of the Bank of California building in downtown Seattle; site plans show the landscaped plazas; restroom plans; and a plan with reflected ceiling plan of the Fifth Avenue lobby. Additional items include a typed project summary with detail drawings of fascia and wall-paneling; section drawing through wall panel; and a landscape development plan.
One color photographic print shows an architectural rendering of the exterior of the Bank of California building in Tacoma with a two-story parking structure with covered entrance off the main street.
Two color photographs of renderings by Earle Duff that show alternate exterior views of the modernist, multi-story Bayview Manor building. Bayview Manor was constructed in 1961 in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood on the site of the former Kinnear Mansion.
Six photographs of Bayview Manor's exterior are described in the Photographs series.
One photographic print of a pen-and-ink drawing shows a bird's eye view of the Beaverton Park shopping mall site with parking lots.
Drawings include three perspective drawings of an outdoor courtyard at Bellevue Square, in front of the Frederick and Nelson department store. Drawings numbered D1 through D3 mostly pertain to landscape plans for the square and include section drawings through the square, paving plan, ground level plan, planting plan for outdoor areas, lighting plan, and a design for masonry planters with wooden seats. Additional drawings show designs for telephone booths (marked "omitted"), sales displays, and an exhibit booth. Additional plan of the square shows a layout for an arts and crafts show with tables and walkways marked in color and a preliminary study for a sales booth. One landscape plan by Bill Teufel places a firepit in the center of the square.
Three photographs of the Boneville Power Administration Building and surrounding areas are described in the Photographs series.
One architectural rendering of the exterior of the building and entrance plaza.
Two photographic prints of architectural rendering showing two differing views of the exterior of the building. One print is a photograph of the architectural drawing included in the project records.
One color photograph of a rendering of Totem Lodge, a log building with heightened center section, deck, and totem. Camp Indianola was founded in 1957 by the United Methodist Church. Totem Lodge, the structure shown in the rendering, features a carved totem pole by Douglas Carter.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering showing the view from the Southeast of the exterior of a multi-story building with windowed facade and side extension. The building was designed for the Local 131 Carpenters Union and contained an auditorium, office space, lounge facilities, parking, and sun louvers over the public walkways outside the building (not pictured in drawing). The building was originally designed and constructed as a three-story structure with a provision for an additional two stories; this rendering shows the building with all five stories.
Alternate name: Centralia First United Methodist Church.
Three photographs of the Centralia Methodist Church are described in te Photographs series.
One photographic print shows a pen-and-ink side elevation of the church from South Washington Avenue.
Chapel Square Mall was originally proposed in 1957 as part of New Haven's Church Street Redevelopment Project. The urban shopping center, located in downtown New Haven, began construction in 1960 when the Edward Malley Company moved from its downtown location to the nearby shopping center. The store reopened in its new location as Malley's in 1962, however, the opening of Chapel Square Mall was delayed until 1967. The mall was designed by Lathrop Douglas, Architects, New York. These drawings were probably intended as proposal drawings for the redevelopment project, however, John Graham's design was not used.
Two photographic prints of architectural renderings show a retail complex with parking garage, stores, and a multi-story hotel with outdoor dining terrace; additional print has two smaller renderings by Earle Duff, one of Malley's and one of the Center on the Green hotel, displayed with three plans for the property showing the multiple floors of the Center on the Green hotel; the final print shows a street-view rendering of the hotel with adjacent shops at Chapel Square and parking. Photographed drawings may have been intended for use as a presentation set, as they are inscribed with the project's title and the name of developer Roger L. Stevens.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff shows the exterior of Malley's department store with parking lot and Paul Rudolph's Temple Street Garage in the background. This was probably intended as a proposal drawing as the building is not attributed to John Graham & Company, nor do pictures from its construction era resemble the building pictured in the rendering.
Photographs of Malley's department store in New Haven are described in the Photographs series.
Two photocopies of topographic site survey enlargements with handwritten notes in ink. Drawing indicates a site on the Columbia River for a refinery complex with numbers for indexing specific areas to slides (see photograph series for color slides).
John Graham and Company, working with California-based Robert Brown Associates, completed an impact assessment for an oil refinery on the Columbia River in 1975. The refinery was proposed by Charter Energy Company, a California subsidiary of Charter oil companies from Jacksonville, Florida. As part of the study, John Graham and Company assessed three sites, eventually selecting a 140-acre site just north of St. Helens, Oregon, near Longview, Washington.
Thirteen photographs and twenty slides for the Charter Energy refinery site study are described in the Photographs series. The published study,
One photographic print provides an aerial view of several city blocks in downtown Spokane. Photograph has been altered by hand to show an addition to The Crescent department store, a parking garage, and three skybridges linking Nordstrom, The Crescent, and Woolworth's department stores.
Six photographs of the retail area in downtown Spokane are described in the Photographs series.
Four drawings pertain mostly to the ladies' lounge and include a perspective drawing of the lounge, entrance elevation, interior elevation, furniture designs, and window treatment designs.
Alternate name: Enfield Square.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering shows the exterior of the G. Fox & Co. department store at the Enfield Shopping Center in Connecticut.
One photographic print shows a pen-and-ink rendering of the church's exterior.
Exterior photographs of the First Reformed Church are described in the Photographs series.
Two photographic prints of architectural renderings show differing views of the exterior of the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. One drawing shows the building as it faces the Las Vegas Strip; the second drawing shows the rear of the building with balconied guest rooms overlooking an outdoor terrace with steps leading down to water.
The art deco Flamingo Hotel and Casino, designed by George Vernon Russell, first opened in 1946. These drawings, drawn one year after the hotel's opening, were probably proposal drawings intended for alterations to the entrance and outdoor pools.
One photograph of an architectural rendering of the exterior of a Food Giant grocery store with parking lot.
One photograph of a site development study for Foster City, a planned community on Brewer's Island, near San Francisco, developed during the 1960s. It is unlikely that this study was used in the development of Foster City, as no link between John Graham and Company and the project can be found.
One photograph of an architectural rendering of a single-story home with screened porch. Drawing is inscribed by John Graham and Company, and J. G. Watts Construction Company, both of Seattle. Inscribed as: Portable and demountable houses for defense areas.
The Garden Park Homes project in Richmond Beach was developed by Albert Balch during the early 1950s. Seattle architects Miller & Ahlson, who worked with John Graham, Sr. on the design for the Decatur Apartment building, were responsible for the master plan. The project included 77 houses: 50 homes designed by John Ridley, who later worked for John Graham & Company; 25 homes designed by C. C. Wollander; and 2 homes by Chiarelli & Kirk. It is unknown how this drawing relates to the project as John Graham and Company's involvement with the project cannot be determined and the drawing is dated later than the completion date of the project in 1951.
The photograph series describes a set of photographs of residences that includes a similar residence from Riverbrook Homes in East Paterson, New Jersey, designed by John Graham, Jr. Each photograph is inscribed by hand on the back with "Garden Park Homes"; the photos may have been used as a reference, as they are believed to show the Riverbrook Homes development.
Rendering of the exterior of building.
Construction on a new facility for Glaser Beverages, designed by John Graham and Company, began in 1960; the new 70,000 square foot facility would replace two existing facilities and include additional loading areas, truck yards, and increase the company's space by 300 percent.
Two photographs of architectural renderings by Earle Duff. One drawing shows an aerial view of the site for the Halifax Shopping Centre; one drawing shows the interior promenade of the mall as viewed through the windowed entrance.
The first phase of the Halifax Shopping Centre was constructed in 1961. Several additions and renovations were completed over the years, with the largest in 1989 that created an additional 75,000 square feet of space.
One photograph of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff showing the Bavarian-themed Hofbrau Haus at the Century 21 World's Fair in Seattle. The Hofbrau Haus was designed by Alan Gerard of the John Graham & Company for Nagy Enterprises, who also operated a Hofbrau Haus in downtown Seattle. The structure featured a canopy roof made from bent and cured plywood sections and walls of clear plate glass.
Rendering/perspective drawing of a multi-story building with balconies.
The Holladay Park Plaza was constructed in 1967 opposite Lloyd Center in Portland, Oregon. The building was renovated in 1995 and presently serves as a retirement home.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff shows a multi-story hotel tower in downtown Seattle with the cursive letter logo R, possibly associated with the Renaissance Hotel chain. Address was approximated from the location of the Friedlander and Sons Jewelers shown on drawing. Attributed to the John Graham, Jr. era based on Earle Duff's association with the John Graham & Company firm during this time.
Color photographic print, with black and white duplicate, of an architectural drawing by Earle Duff shows an aerial view of a shopping mall with a Kaufman's department store, Kroger supermarket, and parking garage on a sloped site with river and interstate highways. Project is identified on the back of the prints with a John Graham & Company job stamp and handwritten title.
Color photographic print, with black and white duplicate, shows an architectural rendering by Earle Duff providing a street-view of the proposed building; additional print shows plans for the ground floor addition to an existing structure and a typical floor plan for the skyscraper's upper level. This building is not related to architect Minoru Yamasaki's IBM Building at 1200 Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle.
The United Pacific Insurance Company announced the movement of its downtown Seattle offices from the Exchange Building to the Insurance Building on 2nd Avenue in 1953, after the purchase of the Insurance Building by the parent company, United National Corporation, one year prior. At this time, the ground floor and basement levels were remodeled for United Pacific Insurance Company offices. Photographed drawings are believed to have been created for the United Pacific Insurance Company's offices at the Insurance Building based on the correlation of dates between the drawings and remodeling activities.
At the time of remodeling, plans were also announced for a five-story addition to United Pacific Insurance Company's headquarters at the Medical Arts Building in Tacoma. Plans for the addition are contained in this collection in the John Graham, Jr. subseries under the title "United Pacific Insurance Company Building."
Three larger reproductions (duplicates) of these images have been retained and are housed in Box 10/4.
Two photostat prints show outline elevations of the building on Madison Street and Second Avenue.
Three photographic prints of architectural renderings showing alterations to the Insurance Building (formerly the Leary Building) in downtown Seattle. Renderings include a street-view rendering showing the exterior of the building with a simple entrance; rendering of the windowed entrance; and rendering of an open office with mid-century modern furnishings and fixtures.
One photographic print, dated August 2, 1957, shows a watercolor rendering of a shopping plaza with cross-gabled roof peaking steeply over the retailers' entrances and a vertical sign rising above the a-foods supermarket. Plaza is signed as "Jamesto[wn] Village."
The second photographic print shows a pen-and-ink rendering, dated April 8, 1958, of the James Village shopping plaza with an Albertson's supermarket store with adjacent Rexall drug store in a single-story shopping plaza with roof forming shallow peaks over the entrances to each shop. Plaza is signed as "James Village."
One photograph of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff shows the James Village Shopping Center with the addition of a Grant's store at the end of the plaza. The shopping plaza was expanded in 1961 to include 13,600 square feet of space for the Grant's store and an additional 9,600 square feet of space for smaller retailers, doubling the number of retailers from 7 to 14. The project was managed by John Graham & Company partner Alvin B. Harrison.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering showing a multi-story modernist building with stone entrance lettered as "Graham Building."
One photographic print shows an architectural rendering by Earle Duff of the exterior of the four-story, multi-residence Judson Park retirement home. The rendering is labeled "Phase I" and indicates the location as Zenith.
The Judson Park retirement home was commissioned by the Washington Baptists Convention. The 200-unit facility was situated on a seven-and-one-half acre site overlooking Puget Sound in unincorporated Zenith, now Des Moines. Construction of Phase I of the facility was completed in 1963.
Three photographs of architectural renderings showing the exterior of the KING television center in three different styles. One drawing, which shows the station as the television center for North Pacific Television, Inc, most closely resembles the KING building as photographed in the photograph series.
Description detached from the back of print stamped January 23, 1953 states, "Complete television production and broadcasting services, including two large studios w/production facilities, advertising and sales offices. Possible addition of radio studio and facilities. To be completed in 1952. Area: 31,500 sq. ft. / Estimated cost: $250,000."
Photographs of the interior and exterior of the broadcasting station are described in the Photographs series.
The Lake Burien Community Presbyterian Church's main sanctuary was dedicated in 1954. Construction began in 1958 on an educational unit and fellowship hall addition.
Interior views of the sanctuary and exterior shots of the building with additions are described in the Photographs series.
Pen-and-ink rendering of building's exterior.
Three photographic prints of architectural renderings for the Lake Burien Presbyterian Church. The first photograph, dated June 12, 1951, shows a pen-and-ink rendering of the church's exterior with multiple buildings attached via covered walkway; the second photograph, dated April 21, 1953, shows an interior perspective of the main worship area with pews and altar under a vaulted wooden roof; the third photograph, dated April 23, 1955, shows a bird's eye perspective of the site with the addition of a proposed Sunday school building.
One photograph of an aerial view of a site near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, that has been altered to add in proposed buildings for the Lake City Industrial Park.
The Lake City Industrial Park opened in the 1950s and has been regularly developed since. The site, located on the southern slope of Burnaby Mountain, was selected for its convenient access to rail and road transportation.
Alternate name: Kachess Village.
Note: Oversize item requires special handling during retrieval.
Site plan shows waterfront resort, marina, and topographic features.
Plans for Kachess Village, a 98-acre resort and recreation development announced in 1974. John Graham & Company prepared the master plan for the site, which called for 92 lots for single-family residences and 384 timeshare condominium units as well as a lodge with restaurant, lounge, offices, and accomodations for staff. The master plan also proposed an inn with resort, commercial, and conference facilities as well as a cultural center with outdoor theater.
Rendering shows an aerial view of the site with pool and oudoor lounge areas; interior perspectives of parking garage and kitchen.
Alternate name: Houghton Marina.
One photograph of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff shows a proposed site plan for the Lake Washington Marina Park in the Houghton neighborhood of Kirkland, Washington. The site shows an apartment complex, marina, outdoor pool, waterfront businesses, and ample parking.
The Houghton Marina and housing development was developed on the 22 acre site of the former Lake Washington Shipyard in Houghton by the Skinner Corporation during the 1960s. The planned marina would provide uncovered moorage for 600 boats, covered storage for 250 boats, a storage building for 200 boats, and a boat workshop. In addition to the marina and workshop, John Graham & Company's design for the site featured two six-story apartment buildings with expansive views, smaller two-story garden apartments, an outdoor swimming pool, auditorium, and landscaped grounds between the buildings to create a park-like atmosphere.
Alternate name: Lakeside West Condominiums.
Two slightly differing rendering/perspective drawings of a multi-story building on waterfront site. Attributed to John Graham, Jr.
One photograph of an architectural rendering by Ken Duffin shows an aerial view of the site for the Lawton Mall. Drawing is inscribed with the firms of John Graham and Company, Architects and Engineers, Seattle, and Carter and Burgess, Inc., Engineers and Planners, Fort Worth.
One photograph shows an architectural rendering by Earle Duff that provides an isometric view of a recreational facility on a golf course. The stone-faced facility has an interior bowling alley, locker area, banquet room, dining room, and bar. The facility is shown with an outdoor terrace projected over the golf green. Drawing is identified on back by the John Graham & Company job stamp with handwritten title.
Two photographic prints (color photograph with black and white duplicate) of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff show the exterior of the Lighthouse for the Blind manufacturing plant and office building. Lighthouse for the Blind has operated in Seattle since 1918 to provide treatment, employment, and rehabilitation for the blind and disabled. During the 1960s, when this drawing was completed, Lighthouse for the Blind expanded its facilities in South Seattle as part of a $4.5 million dollar expansion. Additional buildings added to the complex, including an apartment residence, were designed by other architecture firms.
Alternate name: Chase Tower.
Alternate name: First Lincoln Tower.
Multiple photographic prints show an architectural model for the Lincoln First Square skyscraper in Rochester, New York. Models show two views of the building's curved exterior on a city block with surrounding buildings, plaza view, view of the main floor, and interior view of the escalator bank.
Lincoln First Square was designed by Jack Follette at John Graham and Company, New York. The 27-foot tower is notable for its tube-in-tube construction, exterior ribbing and curved base. Construction began on the building in 1969 and was finished in 1973.
Lloyd Center opened on August 1, 1960 as an open-air shopping mall, contentiously claimed to be the largest in the world at the time of its opening. The shopping center featured an ice rink and multiple public art installations, including a fountain by Seattle sculptor George Tsutakawa. In 1986, Lloyd Center was sold by Lloyd Corp. to Melvin Simon & Associates of Indianapolis, who fully remodeled the shopping center to enclose the shopping center under one roof in 1990.
Photographs of Lloyd Center are descibed in the Photographs series.
Rendering/perspective of the Lipman's department store's exterior.
Lipman's department store was one of the original anchoring tenants in Lloyd Center until it was acquired and renamed by Frederick & Nelson in 1976. A rendering of the Lipman's department store at Washington Square, also by Platz, is available as part of the Washington Square project.
Fifteen photographs of two different architectural models showing the layout of Lloyd Center. The model shows differing views of the multiple buildings and parking lots of the planned retail complex. Some close-up views show a skybridge linking the buildings and views of the different stores.
One photographic aerial view of a site in Portland, Oregon that has been altered by hand to show a proposed shopping center.
One photographic aerial view of a site in Portland, Oregon that has been altered by hand to show a proposed shopping center and surrounding highways.
Two photographic prints of an aerial rendering of a site in Portland, Oregon that have been altered by hand to show a proposed shopping center and nearby buildings.
Inscribed title: Retail Center for Lloyd Corporation.
Fourteen photographic prints of preliminary architectural renderings and drawings. Drawings include a aerial rendering of the site; a map of Portland, Oregon, and vicinity; location plan; upper and lower level plans for Phase I of the project; basement plan; store space allocations; sales plan; and plan for a nearby hotel and amusement center. Several of these drawings have been hand numbered in the lower right corner and were probably intended to be viewed in the numbered order.
Twelve photographs of architectural drawings show different plans for the site of Lloyd Center. Drawings include an aerial rendering of the site; land use master plan; and multiple plans of the retail complex showing the different buildings identified by letters, some with the shop's intended use written under the letter, others show parking areas and transitional levels in department stores and other areas of the building with varying heights; additional plans hand-numbered 97-100 on the back show the different parking levels and service areas.
Six photographs of architectural drawings showing different views of the Lloyd Center shopping mall. Drawings show the parking lot and entrance to the Esplanade; interior promenade of the shopping plaza; windowed entrance doors and outdoor terrace; and the exterior of shopping plaza.
Two photographic prints of architectural renderings for the Meriden Square shopping center include a drawing of the mall's skylit interior promenade and entrance to the G. Fox & Co. department store; and an aerial rendering of the site with a view of the geodesic, domed skylight over the central court.
The Meriden Square shopping center was designed by John Graham & Company in 1971 and featured a barbell design with anchoring department stores, including G. Fox & Co., on either end of the narrow promenade. The two-story mall contained an escalator that could accomodate strollers, wheelchairs, and baggage. The building was remodeled in the late 1980s to replace the glass skylight with a larger dome, replace the escalators with glass-enclosed elevators, add an additional anchoring tenant, and update the interior fixtures. The shopping center underwent additional renovations, including an expansion to G. Fox & Co. in 1993, and transferred ownership several times before being acquired by Westfield in 1996. Under Westfield, the shopping center was renamed as Westfield Shoppingtown Meriden in 1998, and later shortened to Westfield Meriden in 2005.
Two photographic prints of architectural renderings by artist Ken Nichols for the Monterey Oaks apartment buildings. Drawings include a rendering of the parking lot side of the apartment complex with several multi-story residential buildings connected via covered walkways and low-buildings with upper-level outdoor dining terrace; and a rendering of a landscaped terrace at the entrance to the complex.
Bird's eye perspective drawing of site shows shopping mall, parking areas, and surrounding roads. Lettered on matboard: Developers: Ernst W. Hahn, Inc. / Carter Hawley Hale Stores, Inc.
Photographic print of an architectural rendering shows a tented theater space and adjacent restaurant. Although the drawing is dated 1962, this drawing was intended for the 1964-1965 World's Fair in New York City.
Alternate name: Nine Lakes.
One photograph of an aerial view of the edge and outskirts of SeaTac, Washington, that has been altered to show the master site plan for a proposed project by the Ninelake Development Company. One photographic print of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff shows the Ninelake Development Company office building as a modernist building with windowed offices projected along the front of the building. During the 1950s, when these drawings were created, the Ninelake Development Company controlled more than 600 acres in Federal Way, south of the future SeaTac Mall. Development plans indicate the addition of modern industrial buildings and 650 homes and a shopping center to the area; both industrial and residential additions have been added in on the aerial view.
Enlargement of a plan for the site of the Northgate Apartments shows the intersection, parking lots, main building, pool, parking, auditorium, and typical floor. John Graham, Jr. designed the FHA housing in 1950.
The Roland Terry architectural drawings collection provides drawings showing Roland Terry's 1960-1961 alterations to the property. One handwritten budget and sixteen drawings by John Graham, Jr., are included with those records.
Alternate name: Northgate Mall.
The Northgate Shopping Center was conceived and designed by John Graham & Company with Rex Allison, president of the Bon Marche. Northgate's 66 acre location, approximately 9 miles outside of downtown Seattle, originally housed 80 stores interspersed with larger, anchoring department stores. The stores were accessed by outdoor pedestrian walkways with service tunnels below. The shopping center doubled in size after the construction of Interstate 5 and the shopping center's subsequent 25-store expansion in 1965. After continuous construction through the 1970s, the shopping center was fully enclosed in 1974. The property was acquired in 1987 by the Simon Property Group of Indianapolis. Northgate is widely credited as the first shopping mall in the United States.
Rendering/perspective drawing of the exterior of Penney's with attached auto center and parking lot at the end of Northgate Shopping Center.
One photograph of an aerial view of the Northgate neighborhood, north of downtown Seattle, that has been altered to add in a site for a the Northgate Shopping Center and I-5.
Two photographic prints, one in black and white and one in color, of an architectural rendering showing proposed development project with three rectangular multi-story apartment buildings separated by small parks. Highways are visible in the background.
During the late 1950s, the federally funded Oak Street Area Redevelopment Project in New Haven rehabilitated several older buildings and razed several acres of land for a connector to the Connecticut Turnpike that would link New Haven's suburban areas to the downtown retail core and Yale University. As part of the project, they also sought to build several hundred additional square feet of office and retail space, slightly expand Yale University, and build multiple apartment buildings to house students. The photographed drawings were possibly intended as proposal drawings, as no significant connection between John Graham and the Oak Street Area Redevelopment Project could be determined. Similar proposal drawings for the nearby Church Street Area Redevelopment Project are also housed in this collection under Chapel Square Mall.
Alternate name: Capital Mall.
Rendering of entrance plaza to building.
The Olympia Highlands Mall was developed by Ernest Hahn on a 120-acre site as a regional retail center west of Olympia during the 1970s. The area included a covered mall with 100 specialty shops and the Bon Marche and J.C. Penney as two of the four anchoring tenants. The site would also include companion development on adjacent property to include a convenience store, bank, supermarket, an office park, and multi-family housing. The project was announced in 1972, though construction on the site did not begin until late 1977. James Going served as the project director for John Graham & Company on the $40 million project. The property was later renamed "Capital Mall."
Rendering/perspective drawing shows a street view of the parking garage with skybridge.
Two elevations of the building's exterior.
Alternate name: Qwest Plaza.
Six photographic prints of architectural renderings by Earle Duff show multiple views of the Park Shore apartments adjacent to Madison Park in Seattle. Two renderings show the front and back of the multi-story modernist building on the shore of Lake Washington; four additional renderings show the entrance with porte cochere, lounge, dining room, and a typical apartment residence with a view of Mount Rainier. This set of drawings was probably intended to be viewed together as a presentation set.
The fifteen-story Park Shore cooperative apartment project was announced in 1960 as a development by the Presbyterian Ministries, now the Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest. The building opened in 1963 and featured 300 apartment residences, a central dining room, chapel, lobby, hobby shops, infirmary, and recreational facilities, for residents aged 62 and older. John Graham & Company later designed an aviary for the building's lobby in 1964.
One aerial photograph of downtown Seatle that has been altered by hand to show four proposed high-rise buildings at various points downtown. The buildings can be identified as the Federal Center (later, Henry M. Jackson Federal Building) Washington Plaza Hotel (later, Westin Hotel), the Bank of California Building, and the Seattle First National Bank tower. Only the Bank of California Building is shown in full detail.
One aerial photograph of downtown Seatle that has been altered by hand to show the First National Bank building and the Washington Plaza Hotel (later, Westin Hotel).
One aerial photograph of downtown Seatle with two sheets of plastic film overlay that have been altered by hand to show locations for the Bank of California Building and the Pacific Northwest Bell building in downtown Seattle. The films show two proposed heights for the Pacific Northwest Bell building and the projected shadow on surrounding buildings.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering showing the "South Front" view of the exterior of the Redmond Center plaza, a low building with several stores connected by covered walkways and anchored with a Best Food and a drugstore on opposite sides. Building is identified on the back by a John Graham & Company job stamp with handwritten title.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering shows the exterior of a single-story house with carport.
The Roxbury Homes community in Edgehill, West Seattle, was developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s to provide affordable homes for purchase to veterans. The frame construction homes were designed by John Graham & Company. The homes were of varied design, each with 2 or 3 bedrooms and 720 to 850 square feet of living space. During the 1950s, when this drawing was likely completed, there were approximately 175 homes in the Roxbury complex.
Perspective drawing of church exterior.
Alternate name: Lancaster Mall.
One photographic print of a pen-and-ink bird's eye perspective of the site for the Lancaster Mall with unidentified, anchoring department stores arranged around a central building. The site features ample parking and outparcel stores in lots around the building and an adjacent highway. Title block on drawing and handwritten note on the back identifies the shopping center as "Salem Mall."
Two photographic prints show an architectural rendering and a photographed presentation board of drawings. The architectural rendering shows the exterior of building with ground floor retail, topped with two levels of parking, and an office tower. The presentation layout shows six architectural drawings that include plans of the lower level and street level with retail tenants Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney, Woolworth, Stevens, and Payless; upper level plan; roof plan with parking; typical office floor plan; and one section drawing through the entire building including retail areas, parking, and office tower. Handwritten note on the back identifies the building as the "Salem Super Block." These drawings were likely used as proposal drawings, as the present intersection bears no resemblance to the buildings drawn.
One photograph of an aerial view of the edge and outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico that has been altered to add in a site for a proposed project for the Sandia Peak tramway. Two photographic prints of architectural renderings by Earle Duff. Both drawings show a desert setting, one with visitor center at the top of a mountain approached by tramway and overlooking a city; one with a series of low buildings, motel, and parking lots at the base of desert mountains with a tramway leading into the peaks.
These drawings were intended as proposal drawings for the Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque. The Sandia Peak Tramway was built in 1966 but Graham's design was not used and no buildings except for the tram station were built. In this proposal, Graham was to build a 64-room hotel with a revolving restaurant as the terminus of a cable car line that would stretch 3.5 miles to a shopping center, hotel, and motel cluster. The retail and lodging areas would have also been designed by Graham.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering showing a rooftop parking lot at the Seattle Tennis Club.
The Seattle Tennis Club moved to its location in Madison Park on Lake Washington in 1919. John Graham & Company's design for the construction of six tennis courts and a rooftop parking lot for 135 automobiles began in 1966. The reinforced concrete building featured a 27 foot high clearance over the courts with radiant heating and parking lot accessible from McGilvra Boulevard East.
One photographic print of shows an aerial photograph of the Seattle Yacht Club on Lake Washington that has been altered by the architect to show changes made to the parking lot and the addition of a sun deck on the Yacht Club's clubhouse.
The Seattle Yacht Club's clubhouse on Lake Washington was designed by John Graham, Sr. in 1921. His son, John Graham, Jr. was used as the architect in the remodeling of the club during the 1960s. The remodeled clubhouse opened in 1963 and included an enlarged dining room, new kitchen facilities, a small private dining room, and a sundeck (seen in the altered photograph) which opened off the second floor Marine Room.
The Sheraton Hotel was designed by John Graham & Company in 1979. The original design for the hotel was announced in 1977 and featured a triangular building with fifty-seven floors and 1200 rooms at a cost of $110 million; the original design was abandoned in 1978, due to rising construction costs, after demolition of the site's existing buildings. A scaled-down design, shown in these renderings, was announced at the end of 1978 that featured a triangular tower with thirty-four stories, 870 guest rooms and a three-story underground parking garage at a cost of $85 million. This design was used in the construction of the hotel, which was completed in 1982.
Photographs of the Sheraton Hotel's exterior are described in the Photographs series.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering of the Sheraton Hotel tower in downtown Seattle
One photographic print of an architectural rendering by Ken Duffin of the Sheraton Hotel tower in downtown Seattle with slightly different automobile plaza and outdoor terrace.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering by Ken Duffin shows an aerial view of the site for the Skagit Valley Mall surrounded by parking and a divided highway, presumed to be I-5, in the background.
The first phase of the Skagit Valley Mall was announced in 1969 by the Quintana Corporation of San Francisco. The air-conditioned, enclosed shopping mall was located on a sixty-seven acre site between Interstate 5 and Highway 99 and was constructed in two phases. The first phase was designed by John Graham & Company and featured J. C. Penney as an anchoring tenant; the second phase would double the size of the 300,000 square foot mall and add an additional department store. Construction of the mall was completed in 1973.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff shows a street-view rendering of a multi-story apartment building with offset balconies and partially-covered ground floor parking. Attributed to the John Graham, Jr. era based on Earle Duff's association with the firm during this time.
Bird's eye perspective of site shows shopping mall, parking areas, and surrounding roads.
Southcenter Shopping Mall was conceived in 1957 as part of a larger effort to industrialize Tukwila, a community on the Duwamish River south of Seattle. The 85-acre enclosed shopping center was largest shopping center in the Metropolitan Seattle area and included 1.25 million square feet of retail and service areas, with air-conditioning and heating, and parking for 9,000 automobiles. The L-shaped shopping center originally featured the Bon Marche as the central anchoring tenant, with J. C. Penney, Nordstrom Best, and Frederick & Nelson as additional anchoring tenants. Department stores for Bon Marche and Frederick & Nelson were also designed by John Graham & Company. The shopping center bordered a the Tukwila-Andover industrial park developed simultaneously. The shopping center opened in 1968.
Photographs of the Southcenter Mall are described in the Photographs series.
The Space Needle was constructed in 1962 by the Howard S. Wright Construction Company as part of the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle with its futuristic theme, Century 21. At the time of its completion in April 1962, the 605-foot Space Needle was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River. The tower's design was originally conceived by Edward E. Carlson, and refined by architects John Graham, Victor Steinbrueck, and John Ridley. Other designers who contributed to the Space Needle's design include UW Engineering professor Al Miller, artist Earle Duff, and designer Nate Wilkinson. Graham's design for the space saucer housing a revolving restaurant in the five-level tophouse dome was based on his previous design of the revolving restaurant at the Ala Moana in Honolulu, Hawaii; Graham later obtained the first U.S. Patent for a revolving restaurant in 1964. The Space Needle was designated a Historic Landmark by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board on April 19, 1999. The Space Needle was renovated and remodeled in 2000.
Photographs of the Space Needle are described in the Photographs series.
Additional preliminary sketches of the Space Needle by Victor Steinbrueck are held by University of Washington Special Collections.
Site plan and elevation shows a cylindrical observation tower.
Site plan shows a circular restaurant surrounded by pools and aquarium promenade.
Rendering of site with space saucer on low base illuminated with lights and fountains.
Bird's eye perspective of site shows a similar space needle with rounded saucer, domed building, and angled complex of buildings.
One interior perspective drawing shows a proposed broadcasting studio for Radio King at the Space Needle.
Two studies for the Space Needle elevator cabs include a side elevation and painted front elevation with floor plan of the two proposed elevator cabs, one angular and one curved.
Section drawing shows the multiple levels of the space saucer structure.
Two elevations of the tower and restaurant in red and orange; one rendering of tower and restaurant from 1600 feet away; one preliminary elevation of tower with plans of restaurant and observation level.
Two presentation drawings of the restaurant by Earle Duff show the exterior of the windowed restaurant atop the Space Needle overlooking the Century 21 site with mountains and water in the background, and the restaurant's interior with diners dressed in formal attire.
Construction set of eleven drawings is numbered A1 through A11 and includes a title page with index of drawings, plot plan, basement plan with sections, grade level plan, platform plan and details, restaurant plan, mezzanine plan, observatory plan, mechanical and elevator room plan, elevations with sections and details, and suspended roof plan with sections and details.
Note: These drawings are housed in three folders.
Eleven drawings are numbered S1 through S11 and are stamped by John K. Minasian, Structural Engineer, and include foundation plans; tower's base plan with details; tower plan and elevation; steel details of tower; elevator core elevation with details; platform plans and details with sections at different heights of the tower; and top structure framing plans with details. Additional drawings include a flood lighting plan, numbered E1, and roof plan showing lighting at various heights and include notes and detail drawings of flood light mountings and riser diagram. Mechanical room plan, numbered M7, includes a plan for the elevator machinery room and roof plan with piping schematic.
Additional working drawings provide a solar study of the top structure; a heating and air-conditioning piping diagram; a diagram showing water pipes, pumps, valves, and sprinklers in the tophouse and basement pump room; section drawing through the top structure with marker outline over solid walls with notes on materials used; and a side elevation of the 560 foot tower with section drawing of tower supports.
Sketches of the revolving restaurant and observation deck with handwritten notes; include conceptual sketches, elevations, section drawings, and detail drawings. Sketches also include a profile of the edge with revision studies and suggestion for observation deck rails.
One color photograph of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff showing the Space Needle. Oversize format available as described in A92n.
Two larger reproductions of the architectural rendering by Earle Duff showing the Space Needle described in item A92m. One reproduction presents is a partial enlarged view of the original image, focused on the base of the Space Needle and monorail. One reproduction is an enlargement of the original image with green color fading.
Small photograph of an architectural model of the Space Needle atop a wooden base.
One photograph of an architectural rendering by Ken Duffin showing the exterior of a modernist building with ground floor parking garage entrance and awnings over the windows. Building has "D/M Datamac" lettered on the side. A John Graham & Company job stamp identifies the building with handwritten title as "Tab Services, Seattle."
The Tacoma Mall opened in October 1965 with 70 stores on an 83-acre site near Interstate 5 with parking for over 7,000 vehicles. John Graham & Company also designed and remodeled department stores for the original anchoring tenants, Bon Marche, Nordstrom Best, and J. C. Penney's Co. They later remodeled a department store for Sears, Roebuck & Company.
Rendering of interior court.
One photograph of an architectural model showing the interior court of the Tacoma Mall that has been altered by hand to show the interior colonnade.
The five-story United Pacific Insurance Company addition building was designed by John Graham & Company in 1953 on the north side of the Medical Arts Building in Tacoma. The building underwent renovations by an outside firm in 1966 that included refurbishing the lobbies, a mural on the north wall, and restoration of the sandstone facade. Prior to the addition, the United Pacific Insurance Company was operating on four stories of the adjacent Medical Arts Building, also owned by the United National Corporation, and designed by John Graham, Sr. in 1930. These records can be found in the John Graham, Sr. architectural drawings subseries under the name "Rhodes Medical Arts Building."
Drawings showing to the United Pacific Insurance Company's offices at the Insurance Building in downtown Seattle are also contained in this collection in the John Graham, Jr. subseries under the title "Insurance Building alterations."
Photographs of the United Pacific Insurance Company building are described in the Photographs series.
Three negative photostat prints include a rendered perspective drawing of the building's exterior (described below as a positive photographic print) and two interior perspective drawings of the second floor lobby and the ground floor lobby with elevator core and windowed interior entrance. One print shows the gridded window exterior of the United Pacific Insurance Company building adjacent to the Rhodes Medical Arts Building from both St. Helens Avenue and Market Street. This is a partial enlargement of the contact sheet described with the photographic prints.
Five photographic prints of architectural renderings of the United Pacific Insurance Company building in Tacoma. Architectural renderings include views of the exterior of the windowed building; the ground floor lobby with tile walkway and stone-tiled walls; the second floor lobby with wood paneled walls and windowed office doors; and offices for Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Baird. Drawings of the offices for Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Baird have been incorrectly labeled on back as "BPA [Bonneville Power Administration] - Portland."
One positive photostat print shows two differing schemes for the exterior of the United Pacific Insurance Company building adjacent to the Rhodes Medical Arts Building. Scheme I shows the building with elongated channels of windows; Scheme II shows a grid-like windowed exterior. Each scheme shows a view of the building from both St. Helens Avenue and Market Street. Images have the appearance of a hand-drawn facade for the United Pacific Insurance Company building attached to a photographic image of the street. Photostat print shows an enlargement of the hand-drawn facades in Scheme I.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering of the exterior of a multi-story, multi-residential modernist building with windowed entrance vestibule and ground-floor parking entrance. These apartments are shown adjacent to the Commodore Duchess apartment building. Project is identified on the back by a John Graham & Company job stamp and handwritten title. This drawing was possibly intended as a proposal drawing, as it is not believed that these apartments were ever built.
John Graham & Company, in consultation with University of Washington architect Frederick Mann, designed the nuclear accelerator building in 1963. The building provided control rooms, and laboratories and an underground area with experimental areas that connected to the Cyclotron Building. Notably, the building was set into the adjacent hillside by 65 feet to provide radiation shielding, while areas projecting above the ground were constructed from five-foot-thick concrete.
Painted aerial perspective of the Van de Graaf Accelerator Building rendered in a wooded setting with campus buildings visible in the background.
Two photographic prints of an architectural model for the Van de Graaff Accelerator Building. Photographs are taken from slightly different angles and show the building and surrounding area.
One black and white photographic print provides an aerial view of the downtown Seattle block at 7th Avenue and Stewart Street that has been altered by hand to show a monolithic office building with fountain plaza. Property sits adjacent to the Vance Hotel. Drawing was previously mounted to board and identified on back as "Vance Corporation - 7-14-66 - Proposed office bldg and garage."
One color photographic print provides a bird's eye view of a proposed site for Washington Natural Gas. The site shows two buildings with a covered area for gasoline truck fueling and multiple storage tanks. Site is identified on the back of photograph by a handwritten title with the John Graham & Company job stamp.
Washington Natural Gas acquired a seventeen acre tract of land in Renton in early 1964, shortly after the completion of this drawing. It is unknown whether this design was used in the construction of the Renton site.
Photographs of an industrial building in Georgetown and the company headquarters in Seattle are described in the Photographs series.
Alternate name: Westin Hotel.
The 40-story Washington Plaza Hotel opened in June 1969; the hotel's original circular tower on a rectangular base became part of the Westin Hotel in 2001.
Additional aerial photographs that have been altered by hand to show the Washington Plaza Hotel tower along with other buildings developed by Pentagram Corporation are described under "Pentagram Corporation."
Rendering shows an early conceptual design for the hotel.
Photograph of an architectural model showing the round tower of the hotel and surrounding city block.
Architectural rendering shows the interior of Washington Square with gridded skylights and the interior facade of Meier & Frank department store.
Rendering shows the exterior and parking lot of Lipman's department store.
A rendering of the Lipman's department store at Lloyd Center, also by Platz, is available as part of the Lloyd Center project.
Street-view rendering of building's exterior.
One photographic print of a pen-and-ink rendering of the exterior of the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church shows the brick exterior and covered walkway flanking the side of the building.
Groundbreaking began on a Christian-education unit addition to the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church in March 1957. Changes were also made to the main sanctuary, which was constructed in 1952.
Photographs of the church are described in the Photographs series.
One photograph of an aerial view of West Seattle that has been altered to add in a site for the West Seattle General Hospital. The hospital is shown with several buildings across multiple blocks. The West Seattle General Hospital was constructed in phases, and it is unknown during which phase this drawing was made based on the buildings shown. No connection between John Graham and the design of the hospital can be determined.
The West Seattle General Hospital moved from its location on the second floor of a commercial building at the West Seattle Junction to its location on Holden Street in 1961. The hospital was constructed in phases: the first phase saw the construction of a T-shaped building with 80 beds, designed by William Graff of Smith & Graff, in 1961; a three-story convalescent care center, designed by Peck & Merriweather, was constructed as the second phase in 1970; and, as the third phase, Peck & Jensen designed a new lobby, emergency area, and additional surgical rooms, laboratories, and specialist areas, in 1973. West Seattle General Hospital was purchased by Highline West Seattle Mental Health Center in 1995; the hospital was renamed West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital in 1997, and later renamed Navos in 2008.
The Winmar office building was first proposed in 1968. The air-conditioned fourteen-story building was built of pre-stressed concrete and included four elevators, penthouse restaurant, and two levels for parking. Seattle First National Bank occupied the smaller, two-story wing on the north side of the building, as shown in the rendering, and the tower's second floor.
Photograph of the Winmar office building is described in the Photographs series.
Inscribed title: Bellevue office building.
Studies for alterations include a perspective of the building's windowed exterior; preliminary plot plan with an outline of the site's existing building, proposed building, parking lots, walkways, and first floor plan with bank lobby, vault, and offices; later plot plan showing a more fully developed plot plan with drive-in banking lanes in the far corner of the parking lot. Other drawings include a mechanical mezzanine plan and upper level parking plan; top level parking plan and tower; south elevation showing the 13-story building and adjacent garage with section drawing revealing the multiple levels of the garage; and a sketch showing the elevator core on a typical floor. Some drawings are numbered D1-D4, D6, D8, D10-D11.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering by Earle Duff shows the Winmar office building in Bellevue. The fourteen-story building has a smaller wing projected from the front of the building surrounded by parking lots.
Alternate name: Yakima Training Center.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering showing the exterior of the Yakima Research Station at the Yakima Firing Center. The single-story building has a mostly windowless exterior and is surrounded by security fencing and the steppe terrain of central Washington. Project is identified by John Graham & Company job stamp and handwritten title on back of photograph.
Alternate name: Yarrow Tower Apartments.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering shows a multi-story apartment building on a waterfront setting with balcony apartments on the lower levels and sides.
The 20-story luxury apartment tower at Yarrow Bay was designed by John Graham and Company for Paul Dunstan and Associates in 1963. The building contained 89 apartments, each with a private deck overlooking Lake Washington; the building included an outdoor swimming pool, two high-speed elevators, courtyard, gardens, and a three-level parking garage. Project is identified by John Graham & Company job stamp with handwritten title on back of photograph.
Three color photographs of three slightly differing aerial renderings of an unknown open-air shopping mall. One rendering is inscribed by architectural delineator Earle Duff.
Handwritten note on back indicates the project as "Hofheinz - Houston", however, this is believed to be incorrect, unless these were intended as proposal drawings for a shopping center never constructed. Additionally, these drawings are not believed to relate to the Houston shopping center John Graham & Company designed in 1956, Gulfgate Shopping City (later renamed Gulfgate Mall).
Rendering/perspective of a modernist multi-unit residential building in a waterfront setting and a rendering/perspective of the similarly styled building complex arranged on a circular driveway. Attributed to the John Graham, Jr. era based on Earle Duff's association with the John Graham & Company firm during this time.
The two projects listed here were found with the John Graham & Company records, however, it could not be determined how they relate to the firm's body of work at the time of processing.
Street view rendering drawing of the Arndale House by Earle Duff. The Arndale House was developed on the site of the demolished Swan Arcade. Scholars believe the Arndale House to be the only UK commission by John Graham & Company.
The First Interstate Bank Center in downtown Seattle was designed by McKinley/Gerron Architects, Seattle. Construction on the 48-story hexagonal tower was completed in 1983. There is no known connection between this project and John Graham.
Photographs, slides, and negatives of the First Interstate Bank building are described in the Photographs series.
One drawing includes a photoreproduction of the downtown Seattle skyline around the 4th Avenue and Marion intersection with descriptive notes, drawn-in vanishing points, and height projections of nearby buildings drawn on a trace overlay. Drawing has "Pacific National Bank" written on the trace, indicating it may have been completed before Pacific National Bank became First Interstate Bank.
One photographic print shows an aerial view of downtown Seattle with hand-drawn building adhered to a location between Marion and Madison Streets on 5th Avenue. Nine photographic prints provide a view corridor analysis of the city block bounded by Marion and Madison Streets; photographs have been taped to a plastic film overlay with colored lines showing the projections of a proposed building and notes about the location and possible visual obstructions along each street.
Photographs are for projects designed by John Graham & Company during the era of John Graham, Jr., unless otherwise noted.
Alternate name: American Life Insurance Company building.
Architectural drawings and photographs of architectural drawings of the AIA Karachi office by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Architectural drawings and photographs of architectural drawings for the site of the Ala Moana Shopping Center, office building, and hotel by John Graham & Company, are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Fourteen photographs of architectural drawings of the Alaska State Office Building by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Alternate names: Union Bank of California Building; 901 5th Avenue.
Three architectural drawings and eight photographs of architectural drawings of the Bank of Califonia building by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Two photographs of architectural renderings of Bayview Manor by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Five architectural drawings of the Bon Marche department store in downtown Seattle by John Graham, Sr., are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Architectural drawings and photographs of architectural drawings of the Bonneville Power Administration building by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
One photograph of an architectural rendering of the Centralia Methodist Church by John Graham & Company is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
See: Space Needle, Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington
Photographs of architectural drawings showing Malley's department store at Chapel Square Mall are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Two topographic site survey enlargements with handwritten notes by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Note: Slides correspond to the numbered locations on the topographic enlargements contained in the Charter Energy project records described in Architectural drawings and models series.
Exterior view of building.
Working with Coca-Cola designer Jesse M. Shelton, Atlanta, John Graham, Sr. and William Painter, working as Graham & Painter, designed the Art Deco style bottling plant on First Hill in 1939. The building was designated as a City of Seattle Landmark in 2010.
The limestone bas relief mural was designed by sculptor Harold Balazas.
One photographic print with hand-drawn additions by John Graham & Company has been described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
The Edgewater Apartments were designed in 1939. The complex features several similarly styled two-story buildings on open landscaped grounds on the northern shore of the Madison Park neighborhood.
Alternate name: United Exchange Building.
Incomplete set of architectural drawings for the Exchange Building by John Graham, Sr., are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Alternate name: Henry M. Jackson Federal Building
Seattle's 37-story Federal Building was designed in 1974 as a joint venture between John Graham & Company and Fred Bassetti & Company. The building's design received an AIA Seattle Honor Award in 1976.
Alternate name: Wells Fargo Center.
One architectural drawing and site photographs with handwritten notes are described in the Architectural drawings and models, Miscellaneous drawings subseries.
Site photographs.
One photographic print of an architectural rendering by John Graham & Company is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Alternate name: First Methodist Episcopal Church.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church was designed in 1907 by James Shack and Daniel Huntington. Construction on the Beaux-Arts style sanctuary was completed in 1910. An addition to the building was made during the 1950s by John Graham & Company, later demolished for construction of a skyscraper at 5th and Columbia.
Exterior view.
See: Riverbrook Homes, East Paterson, New Jersey
Aerial view of shopping center.
Negatives show views of the building site from across freeway, near Cherry Street and Columbia Street; some images show a construction crew gathered around a manhole cover at an intersection.
The Ilikai Hotel opened in Honolulu in 1964. John Graham & Company designed the restaurant and five-story tower surmounting the 25-story hotel.
Photographs of architectural drawings of the KING-TV broadcasting station are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Slides show an undeveloped area along Knapp Coulee Road. It is unknown if or how these slides were used by John Graham & Company.
One architectural rendering and photographs of architectural renderings of the church by John Graham & Company is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Alternate name: Levittown Shop-a-Rama.
Architectural drawings, and photographs of architectural drawings and models of the Lloyd Center are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Architect Arthur Erickson designed the MacMillan Bloedel Building during the late 1960s. Some drawings have handwritten notation on back "New H.O." indicating that the building may have housed the John Graham & Company's Vancouver office.
Alternate name: Broadway Mall.
The United States Naval Regional Medical Center was designed in 1981 by John Graham and Roderick Kirkwood.
Architectural rendering and photograph of a hand-altered aerial view of the Northgate Shopping Center site are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Photographs show the existing Old National Bank building, a two-story structure with covered entrance, in Bellevue. John Graham & Company designed a ten-story tower and adjacent parking garage for the same location to replace the existing building; Old National Bank would remain as the major tenant of the building on the first and second floors, and offices on the other eight.
Exterior images of building and surrounding area.
Alternate name: Ballston Common Mall.
Aerial view of shopping center plaza with view of Hecht's department store.
Port Quendall, located on the Southeastern shore of Lake Washington, near Renton, comprises sixty-acres of waterfront property. The property formerly housed a sawmill, coal tar refinery, and and creosote plant. These slides show the area as it overlooks Lake Washington along with handwritten notes on some slides regarding the environment of the site. It is unknown if or how these slides were used by John Graham & Company.
John Graham & Company designed the Engineering-Management Building at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for the Western Division of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command during the late 1960s. The concrete and glass building was noted for its inverted-pyramid shape on a hillside site. The building received a Department of Defense Design Award after its construction.
Aerial view.
Architectural drawings of the Rhodes Medical Arts Building by John Graham, Sr. are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Photographs are believed to show the Riverbrook Homes development, as inscribed on the front of the photograph. "Garden Park Homes" is inscribed on the back by hand.
The Architectural drawings and models series describes a proposal drawing by John Graham & Company for a home in the Garden Park Homes development in Richmond Beach that may have used these photographs as a reference.
Photographic print of an architectural rendering of a home in the Roxbury Homes development by John Graham & Company is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Photograph of a rendered site plan by Graham & Priteca is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Images of Seattle's downtown and view corridors. It is unknown if these are related to a specific project.
Photographic print of an architectural rendering by John Graham & Company is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
The Seneca Doctors Clinic was designed and owned by John Graham. The 12,000 square foot facility housed 15 hospital beds and office space for eight doctors and surgeons. Graham sold the property in 1967.
Photographic prints of architectural renderings by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Rendered aerial of the site by John Graham & Company is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Architectural drawings and photographs of models by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Color slides show an undeveloped site with handwritten notes about the site's environment. It is unknown if or how these slides were used by John Graham & Company.
Slides show multiple areas of downtown Seattle, including the skyline from the waterfront, and building roof opposite the Sheraton Hotel.
Three photographs with handwritten directionals adhered to page with typewritten descriptions.
Two unidentified homes. "Tacoma" handwritten on back.
Rendering of mall's interior by John Graham & Company is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Slides of a Texaco oil refinery and surrounding environment in an unknown location. It is unknown how or if these slides were used by John Graham & Company.
Architectural drawings by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Hand-colored black and white photo on linen shows the exterior of the Physics Building. The Physics Building at University of Washington was designed in 1927 by John Graham, Sr. in conjunction with Carlson, Eley & Grevstad, Architects. A southeast wing was added by John Graham & Company in 1948.
Photographs of building models by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Photograph of an architectural drawing for a site in Renton by John Graham & Company is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Alternate name: Westin Hotel.
Architectural rendering and photograph of architectural model by John Graham & Company is described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Photographic print of an architectural rendering by John Graham & Company described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
Architectural drawings of the Winmar office building by John Graham & Company are described in the Architectural drawings and models series.
The Seabirds subseries contains images of birds, photographed at various points around Washington and Oregon during the late 1970s that were donated with the John Graham & Company collection. There are no architectural drawings or photographs of projects contained in these records and it is unknown how these photographs relate to John Graham & Company's work.
Contact sheet and negatives containing 33 photographs. Includes prints for items P71/1a, P71/7a, P71/11a, P71/26a, P71/31a.
Contact sheet and negatives containing 30 photographs. Includes prints for items P72/18a, P72/21a, P72/26a, P72/27a, P72/28a.
Contact sheet and negatives for 22 photographs.
7 black and white prints.
Contact sheet and negatives containing 21 photographs. Includes prints for items P75/14a and P75/15a.
Contact sheet and negatives containing 36 photographs. Includes print for item P76/14a.
5 color prints.
2 contact sheets containing 22 photographs.
2 contact sheets containing 22 photographs.
9 sheets of paper with handwritten notes pertaining to the Seabirds Project.