For over 60 years, the Kittitas County Historical Society, Inc. (dba Kittitas County History Museum) has passionately dedicated their resources to collecting, preserving, and sharing the rich history, heritage, and culture of Kittitas County. Located within the historic Cadwell Building and home to priceless artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the local area, critical renovations were required to ensure the building’s longevity. Ponderosa Construction was honored to play a key role in this multi-phase restoration effort, working alongside skilled trades and engineering firms to reinforce the museum’s structural integrity and safeguard the historical treasures housed within it for future generations.
​The Cadwell Building, classified as an Unreinforced Masonry (URM) structure, faced significant structural concerns. The roof had started to fail, and the parapets—protruding sections of the exterior walls—were unstable. Without intervention, strong winds or seismic activity could cause portions of the building to collapse inward or onto the sidewalk below. Before the museum could justify replacing its roof, it was essential to complete extensive structural work to prevent future failure.

​Ponderosa Construction took on the unexpected phase of restoration (known as Phase 1.5 - Reroof), focusing on structural carpentry. Their team executed a diaphragm overlay to increase lateral resistance, ensuring the building’s internal framework connected securely to its outer walls. They also reinforced the parapets by installing a critical angle metal connection, preventing potential collapse and creating a more resilient structure.

​To further strengthen the building, we constructed a structural wood cricket brace to divert water away from vulnerable areas and collaborated with SSF Engineering to enhance the diaphragm connections. These improvements provided essential reinforcement, making the Cadwell Building structurally sound and ready for the final phase: roof replacement. This project was one of Ponderosa Construction’s most technical undertakings within a condensed timeline. Despite the challenges, their expertise in structural restoration ensured the Kittitas County Historical Society, Inc. (dba Kittitas County Historical Museum) could continue its mission of collecting, preserving, and sharing the history, heritage, and culture of Kittitas County. Now, with a reinforced roof
and enhanced safety measures, the Cadwell Building is better equipped to protect the invaluable artifacts housed within it and serve the community for generations to come.