OLD WENATCHEE JAIL

Location:  Wenatchee, Washington
Type:  On The Boards
Sustainability: Adaptive Reuse

The Old Wenatchee Jail is getting ready for a thoughtful renovation. Dating back to 1910, this brick vernacular building stands as a testament to the region's rich heritage. Led by our team, the restoration aims to preserve the building's unique character while ushering in a new era of vitality. 

With a focus on honoring the past, the renovated jailhouse will soon be home to a ground level butcher and a hidden upper-level speakeasy which inherit the abandoned shell of Wenatchee's first jailhouse. A pair of contemporary structures with new tasting rooms, restaurants, and retail will flank the historic jailhouse and share a vibrant courtyard, transforming the southern end of downtown Wenatchee into a new food and beverage destination. 

A pivotal aspect of the project involves reconnecting the jailhouse with the surrounding pedestrian thoroughfare. By carefully removing obstructive structures and replacing them with a meticulously landscaped plaza, the design breathes new life into previously vacant spaces. This activated plaza promises to become a bustling hub, inviting locals and visitors alike to gather, mingle, and immerse themselves in the charm of Wenatchee's historic district.

The adaptive reuse and redevelopment of the Old Wenatchee Jail is one part of a broader development on the same site; it will serve as a forecourt and front entry to a large-scale multifamily residential project being built by the same developer. We coordinated with the design team for the residential structure to integrate pedestrian connections through the block, creating cohesion and ease of movement for residents and visitors from one end to the other.  

Architect: Graham Baba Architects
Civil Engineer: Forsgren
Structural Engineer: Swenson Say Faget
Landscape Architect: GGLO
Mechanical/electrical/plumbing/fire protection engineers: PAE
Acoustic Engineer: Tenor Engineering
Specification Writer: C. Anthony Fodden
Building envelope consultant: 4EA 
Accessibility consultant: Studio Pacifica
Images:  Graham Baba Architects