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King County Journal
February 14, 2004
By David A. Grant
Journal Reporter |
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A Picnic Shelter Built to Last |
Jeff Stoneman, left, and Andy Norlander position a roof truss made of Douglas fir
on Friday at the new Crossroads Community Park picnic shelter pavilion. Built by Timbercraft Homes,
the shelter alone will cost the city of Bellevue $98,700. In the background is Nathan Anderson. |
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Crossroads Community Park gets addition worth $250,000 |
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BELLEVUE -- A new picnic shelter being erected at Crossroads
Community Park boasts Old World craftsmanship and could last for
hundreds of years.
Built by Timbercraft Homes, the new |
1,500-square-foot structure features
large posts of Douglas fir that fit together with 6-by-10-inch beams
using traditional mortise and tenon joinery, bolstered by hidden
metal connectors. |
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The handsome and durable timber framing doesn't come cheap, however.
It will cost the city of Bellevue $98,700 just for the shelter, and
a total of $250,000 once benches, drinking fountains, patio, design work,
landscaping and permitting are thrown in.
Pam Fehrman, capital projects coordinator for the parks department, said
the picnic shelter was picked as the most desirable project by nearby
residents through the city's neighborhood |
enhancement program.
Fehrman said the picnic shelter will look similar to one nearby in the park,
located at 16140 N.E. Eighth St., though the timber frame style is a first
for the city.
The sides of the shelter, which is divided into three sections, will be
open, the roof will be made of metal and the floor will be a cement patio.
Timbercraft's framing work on the shelter will be finished by next week. |
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Andy Norlander, who is managing construction of the picnic shelter for
the Port Townsend-based company, said Timbercraft's building cost
15 percent to 20 percent more than conventional construction, but their
durability is measured in centuries rather than decades.
"It's far stronger than regular 2-by-4 construction," Norlander said.
"There are timber frame buildings in Europe that are 300 to 400 years old.
The strength is |
incredible."
While the Crossroads Park picnic shelter is a first on the Eastside for Timbercraft,
the company has built a couple of large homes in recent years, including
a mammoth 15,000-square-foot project on the Sammamish Plateau.
"Some people want it just for looks, but others want a craftsman-style home that
endures," Norlander said. |
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