Bringing Light Rail to Ravenna
N150 Roosevelt Station
This $169 million project was part of the Sound Transit Northlink extension, north of University District Station. The 126,000 SF station is 90 feet deep, approximately 500 feet long, and 80 feet wide, with four levels underground and one above.
The new station is located directly across from Roosevelt High School, which Hoffman renovated 10 years ago. Hoffman’s in-house structural division, Hoffman Structures, self-performed installation of about 40,000 cubic yards of concrete.
Project Story
Restoration of the Standard Canopy Sign
A distinctive feature of Roosevelt is the incorporation of a classic red and green neon sign from the Standard Radio store, which had been a cherished part of the Roosevelt neighborhood since the 1940s.
To keep the spirit of the neighborhood alive, Sound Transit salvaged the original sign from the demolished buildings at the Roosevelt Station site and Hoffman worked with Western Neon to rebuild and refurbish the iconic sign. The restored sign now hangs at the south headhouse ticketing area at the 65th Ave entry.
Seamless Coordination with a Complex Web of Contractors
With both Roosevelt and U District on the critical path of the overall schedule for the Northgate Link Extension project, finishing the stations in time for this month’s grand opening required detailed coordination with many other Sound Transit contractors.
During three years of preconstruction, Hoffman worked through numerous logistical and phasing challenges to plan for construction to proceed in tandem with tunneling, rail, and systems happening in and around the station, as well as adjacent apartment building construction across from the Roosevelt Station site. Early initial planning and engagement with permitting officials helped all parties plan to allow permits to be signed off at completion of multiple systems with multiple interfaces.
A Unique Crane to Support a Massive Concrete Operation
Hoffman’s in-house structural division, Hoffman Structures, Inc., self-performed installation of about 40,000 cubic yards of concrete on Roosevelt Station. To tackle the vast amount of mass concrete, Hoffman Structures used the Kroll tower crane that the tunnel contractor, JCM, had utilized during the tunneling work.
The giant crane, nicknamed “Big Red”, was a neighborhood landmark. With higher capacity to hoist heavy components than a typical tower crane, the team could prefabricate wall pilasters at full height and build larger gang forms and rebar curtains, thus increasing efficiency and safety by minimizing the work required at heights. When it was dismantled, Sound Transit hosted crane dismantling watch parties to celebrate and mark the next phase of construction.
