Ebenal General and Whatcom Museum for History & Art: Something Old, Something New

April 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Innovative art space brings together Victorian architecture and 21st Century design.

Bellingham, WA — Described as “a place of wonder in a wonderful place,” the Whatcom Museum for History & Art is a fascinating blend of technology and tradition. Its buildings reflect over 120 years of Bellingham history and innovation, and their revitalization provided a unique challenge for one local developer.

As one of the leading forces behind the rebirth of historic Bellingham, David Ebenal and the team at Ebenal General Inc. were thrilled with the opportunity to update the Whatcom Museum facilities, starting with the Old City Hall, a cherished Bellingham landmark.

Originally constructed in 1892 to support the bustling port and mining town, the Old City Hall was built above an abandoned mining tunnel and designed by local architect Albert Lee.

In 1941, after a new City Hall was built, the Whatcom Museum took over the space, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. As the building aged, faulty wiring and other construction-related issues made the building an unsuitable home for fragile museum artifacts. So, the decision was made to upgrade and restore Lee’s Victorian masterpiece, one of the best examples of Victorian architecture in the Northwest.

Local contracting company David Ebenal Construction was chosen to lead the project, which included restoring the Old City Hall as well as constructing a new, modern building. This family-owned firm has a long and successful history of Bellingham-area projects, both historical and modern. Well-known projects in the area include the restoration of the Waldron and Young buildings, Bellingham International Airport, and the Bellwether Gate mixed-use facility.

“As part of the Whatcom Museum redesign, we had the opportunity to work with Jim Olson of Olson Kundig, one of the country’s most innovative architects,” says Ebenal.

Together, the two firms created the Lightcatcher, a spectacular, 6,500-square-foot translucent wall structure. Incorporating materials native to the Northwest, the Lightcatcher building was the first museum facility in Washington State designed to energy-saving LEED Silver-Level specifications. Over 42,000 square feet in size, the building features an ever-changing showcase of art exhibitions and a fascinating Family Interactive Gallery, designed for people of all ages to learn through interaction, creative expression and visual cues.

Thanks to David Ebenal and his team, the Whatcom Museum will continue to embrace the future as it preserves the past, for the benefit of all. To learn more about the museum, visit www.whatcommuseum.org. And, to find out more about David Ebenal and the Ebenal Group, visit www.ebenal.com.

Filed Under: David Ebenal, David Ebenal Construction, Ebenal General Inc

Ebenal General receives $2 million settlement from Western Washington University

February 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Bellingham, WA general contractor tells subcontractors, ”Thanks for your patience.”

Bellingham, WA — Ebenal General, a leading general contractor in the Whatcom County area, announced today that its client, Western Washington University, has agreed to pay the company approximately two million dollars in funds toward the $15 million construction of Buchanan Towers East, a 28-room residence hall on the edge of the campus.  The settlement goes to the insurance provider, Safeco Insurance Co., which provided the bond to guarantee payment of the subcontractors, suppliers and completion of the project.

The project, which was originally scheduled for completion in August of 2010, has been subject to over 150 change orders requested by the university, which have contributed to the delays.

As a general contractor, Ebenal has worked with many subcontractors in the area on this project, which owner David Ebenal calls “lavish.” He points out that “the finishes in these college dorm rooms rival the finest custom homes in Bellingham.” Ebenal continues, “At a total cost of almost $15 million, that’s about $535,000 a room. With Western Washington University trustees voting to raise tuition rates 16 percent for the 2012-13 school year, it’s unfathomable why they would elect to spend so much on this one building.”

Ebenal considers the settlement a victory, not just for Ebenal General, but for the many local subcontractors who experienced financial hardship as a result of the withholding of funds, which Ebenal claims took almost two years for the university to release.

“Because Western chose to withhold these funds, we worked very hard with our bonding company to get these subcontractors paid,” says Ebenal. “We’re very pleased with this development, and we want to thank our subcontractors for their patience.”

Contact:
David Ebenal
Ebenal General
4326 Pacific Hwy
Bellingham WA 98226
Phone: (360) 738-1940

Filed Under: David Ebenal, Ebenal General, Ebenal General Inc, Ebenal Western Washington University

Condos, offices, stores proposed for Fairhaven’s flagpole corner

July 29, 2004 By

DEVELOPMENT: Roof heights will be as much as 55 feet above 11th Street.

BY EMILY WEINER – THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

A Bellingham builder has applied to construct eight stores, six second-floor offices and as many as 29 condominium apartments on a Fairhaven property that fronts Finnegan Way, Mill Avenue and 11th Street.

But in response to concerns voiced by neighbors about views, a historic building next door and the size of the residences, several changes are being considered in the design of the project.

The developer is Dave Ebenal, of Ebenal General Inc., in Bellingham. The project will be called Fairhaven Gardens.

The L-shaped site wraps around a red-brick building where Whidbey Island Bank has a branch, at 1128 Finnegan Way. A plaza at the edge of the property, on the corner where Mill Avenue, Finnegan Way and 12th Street converge, includes a tall flagpole, benches, planters, and a low brick wall with plaques honoring war veterans. Part of the site is overgrown with blackberries, the rest is paved for parking, including 17 spaces reserved for residential and commercial tenants of Judson Plaza, a four-story building directly across Mill Street.

Steep slope

The site slopes steeply down Finnegan Way to 11 Street, so the roof of the new building would step down to give the appearance of a series of three-story buildings along Mill Avenue. Landscaped roof gardens would include decks for tenants – some private and some shared – and add greenery to the view from South Hill.

A two-level garage, entered from Mill Avenue, would have a total of 61 parking stalls. City rules require 38 spaces for the residential tenants. Because the site is within the Fairhaven Parking District and a past owner helped finance public parking nearby, on-site parking will not be required for the building’s offices or stores.

Must meet standards

The project will have to comply with the city’s Fairhaven Design Review Standards. Volunteers on the Landmark Review Board will review building plans and may decide to hold a public hearing and make a recommendation on the appearance of the building to the city’s planning director, who will decide whether it meets the design standards.

The designer is Kathleen J. Hill, of K.J. Hill Design Group in Bellingham, who brought into the design team local professionals’ from four other companies: Sean Hegstad Architect, Geiger Engineers, 2020 Engineering and GeoEngineers.

Ebenal is also building Fairhaven Square, a condominium  project on Harris Avenue at 13th Street, where a skeleton of steel girders had stood since a construction project was abandoned in 1975.

Neighbor concerns

Hill and Hegstad unveiled the building plans for Fairhaven Gardens at two recent neighborhood meetings. Several people who own property nearby said the plans looked very attractive and would be a good fit in Fairhaven. But several concerns were raised at the meetings, which were also attended by Jackie Lynch, the city planner assigned to the project.

Views and heights

In 1999, Barbara and Coenraad Zielstra developed the bank building that the proposed project would hug on two sides. On the top two floors of the Zielstras’ building, which rises about 33 feet from Finnegan Way, is a residential condominium they live in part time.

“We thought we’d have a view from both floors,” Barbara Zielstra said.

In the commercial zone where Fairhaven Gardens is proposed, building height is limited to 35 feet above the average elevation of the sidewalk.

But because the project is on a sloping, L-shaped site, the average sidewalk elevation allows a taller building than could have been constructed on the single lot just downhill from the Zielstra’s building.

RICK MULLEN

COURTESY ILLUSTRATION

STAIR-STEP DESIGN: This artist’s rending of the planned Fairhaven Gardens building shows the east-facing side on 12 Street and the south-facing side on Mill Street. The drawing shows the existing Whidbey Island Bank building at the far right, but omits a drive-through branch of Key Bank on the opposite corner.

BUILDING SITE: The lot next to the Kulshan Club (left), and behind the Whidbey Island Bank building on Finnegan Way in Fairhaven is the proposed site for Fairhaven Gardens, a part-residential, part-commercial building. The Kulshan Club was built in 1909 as a social club for men.

 

Filed Under: Ebenal General Inc