Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/1496538
Tudor Tune-Up Benjamin's favorite Blue Sound Construction project is a waterfront Tudor in Laurelhurst, "maybe because it was our first big historic job. We rebuilt a second staircase and replaced the main staircase's extensive octagonal turret wall's French casement windows within their brick openings." One of several Tudors Benjamin and team were contracted to rejuvenate, the project also involved vaulting the ceiling, installing a new leaded glass window, and adding a claw-footed tub that complemented the original aesthetic. The result was a beautiful and consistent interior space. "Our work gave the home the little kiss it needed. But there are many, many charming homes with which we enjoy an affectionate bond. They live in our minds because we feel we played a part in their legacy." Georgian Revival Michael's favorite JM Bogan project was the full restoration of the Wurdemann Mansion in 1995. This handsome 1915 Georgian—listed on the National Registry of Historic Places—is the last surviving home in the "first eight" community in Lake Forest Park in Seattle and a cherished community asset. The two-acre home features extensive gardens and fountains, French doors, four bedrooms, a library, and a carriage house. JM Bogan was hired to restore much of the home, indoors and out, including additions in the form of the new master bathroom and sewing room and the transformation of the carriage house, pictured here, into into an ADU and three-car garage. JM Bogan strove to preserve the existing structure and ensure new millwork matched the old. For their impressive efforts, they received MBAKS' 1995 REX Award for Room Addition. Says Michael, "It was a wonderful opportunity and a feather in my cap. More than a quarter century later, it still stands." Passion Projects long run, and that prevents the carbon-intensive manufacturing of new buildings." Other building standards are less negotiable. Making sure old homes that didn't succumb to prior quakes survive the next one is always in the back of Michael's mind when taking on renovations. He recalls watching the 1989 World Series when the earthquake shook Candlestick Park. "It wasn't long after that seismic considerations in building sciences and construction practices became part of code." "Altering or adding to an existing structural element today often requires structural analysis and engineered connections with steel, straps and rods, and epoxy adhesives at depth of embedment, with all sorts of manufactured seismic accoutrements," explains Michael. All these keep the structure safely tethered to its foundation. "We have the technology today, and we use it." Out of the Past Both companies work in contemporary spaces as much as in older homes, but the classics do offer important lessons for modern construction and have deepened their work across the board. For Michael and JM Bogan, it's understanding the basic principles underlying all home construction and seeing how the puzzle fits together. "Knowing how something is constructed can be the next best thing to X-ray vision. This knowledge often provides an understanding of how a house can best be safely deconstructed." Armed with that information, a design-build company can achieve virtually anything a modern remodel might call for. Working on the classics has led Benjamin, Courtenay, and Blue Sound Construction to question some of the choices made in contemporary homes. Says Benjamin, "I think, for better or for worse, it has made us a bit skeptical of some modern building designs and practices. We've seen the things that don't hold up versus those that do." Thankfully, as long as designers and builders keep exploring classic homes, the wisdom of older design will not be lost. Using modern materials and techniques, JM Bogan and Blue Sound Construction work to make sure these treasures endure. PHOTO: ALEX HAYDEN 28 master BUILDER | SPRING 2023