William Volker Building
historic place
The William Volker Building, located at 1000 Lenora Street in Seattle's King County, was completed in 1928. This historic place was designed by architects Henry Bittman and his associate Harold Adams. The building is significant as an early and well-preserved example of Art Deco design in Seattle. It was among the first structures in the city to employ these Art Deco motifs. Bittman and Adams utilized their engineering skills and architectural talent to create a strong, utilitarian building graced with prominent Art Deco details. Its structural system was similar to the pioneering Terminal Sales Building, another of Bittman's designs. The William Volker Company, a Kansas City-based manufacturer and wholesaler of furniture and window shades, originally occupied this building until the late 1970s. Today, the William Volker Building serves as the main downtown facility for Cornish College. It remains historically important for its pioneering Art Deco style and robust, functional architecture.