11-07 Toppenish Depot

YAKIMA VALLEY RAIL AND STEAM MUSUEM ASSOCIATION - CITY OF TOPPENISH
Toppenish, WA

Traho Architects P.S. completed the construction, funded by a Federal Transportation Enhancement Grant.  This grant to the Yakima Valley Rail and Steam Museum Association went toward the needed rehabilitation list for the Northern Pacific Railway Depot in Toppenish. The list of repairs were evaluated and required to meet with historical accuracy of the 1911 original construction. A master list of priorities focused on repair of the eaves; soffits; articulated cornice with integral gutters; reconstruction of missing roof dormers; barrier-free accessibility; soffit and attic ventilation. Typical with construction and specifically historical projects, the project could not achieve all of the renovation goals. The roofing had to match the original dark gray slate.

As a federal grant with the depot building eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the project fell under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires agencies to consider the long term effects of their work on historic properties. Traho Architects addressed Section 106 compliance, including a description of the Area of Potential Effect and confirmed that architectural design decisions affecting the appearance of the Depot were considered in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.

The work scope focused on "arresting decay" and included removing and replacing the original roof gutters, sheet metal cornice, rotted and deflected roof fascia framing, the addition of the original 6 roof dormers, lead paint remediation, bead board soffit, historical paint colors, new roof soffit vents, and structural roof framing repairs including replacement, strong back stiffening, straps and metal stud sistering of framing to maintain the historical appearance and provide long term support for sagged framing and to remove deflection from roof.