University VW/Audi expansion half finished

Sierra Construction Co. has reached the half-way point for University Volkswagen/Audi’s big addition to its dealership along 11th Avenue Northeast in the University District. Construction is expected to be finished in May.

The project at Northeast 50th Street adds 122,700 square feet in three stories. Included are two 41,000-square-foot parking garages, a 13,000-square-foot indoor display area and three 4,700-square-foot service bays. The garages will have one floor for sales parking and one floor for service parking.

There will be 30 repair/maintenance stations equipped with in-ground car lifts in the service bays. All will be at the ground level and will be visible through surrounding storefront glass.

The exterior will be clad in glazing, stucco and sheet metal. An elevator and stair will provide access to a green roof that will have views of downtown Seattle.

A focal point will be a two-story helical car ramp around a three-story radial wall that will tie the entire project together.

Crews so far have built 40 concrete columns, poured 3,600 cubic yards of concrete and installed 700 tons of structural steel. They also have built three reinforced shear walls and installed the elevator.

Freeway Motors Inc. is the owner.

Gordon Fleener Architects is the designer, WR Consulting is the civil engineer, and Swenson Say Faget is the structural engineer.

Major subcontractors are: Universal Refrigeration, mechanical; SME inc. of Seattle, electrical; State Mechanical, plumbing; Coastal Steel, steel erection; Metals Fabrication, steel supply; Performance Contracting, interior framing; and Axiom Construction, sheet metal.

Sierra’s team is senior account manager Kirk MacGowan, project engineer Nolan Vella, superintendent Jeff Wahls, assistant superintendent Tim Clark, foreman Scott Mathis, and field employees John Modene, Mitch Kranson and Jorge Martinez.