As Seattle commemorates the 60th anniversary of the 1965 magnitude 6.7 earthquake that shook Western Washington, concerns about the city’s readiness for the next major seismic event remain pressing. Despite advancements in construction standards, more than 1,100 buildings in Seattle still require seismic retrofitting to improve their resilience against earthquake forces.
The April 29, 1965 earthquake, centered near Des Moines, rattled the region for 45 seconds, claiming seven lives—three due to falling debris in Pioneer Square and four from heart failure triggered by the shock. While the later Nisqually earthquake in 2001 caused more extensive damage, both events underscored the vulnerability of older, unreinforced masonry buildings across Seattle.
“Seattle has made progress, but we still have a long way to go,” said Dr. H. Kit Miyamoto, a global earthquake structural engineer and CEO of Miyamoto International. “The building code focuses on life safety, but many historic buildings don’t meet today’s standards.”
Most of the buildings identified for retrofitting were constructed in the early 20th century using unreinforced brick, which poses a significant risk during seismic activity. These structures are especially concentrated in Pioneer Square, but they’re also scattered across historic neighborhoods like Columbia City, the University District, and Old Ballard.
“Essentially, any neighborhood known for its charm and history likely contains buildings that need retrofitting,” said Amanda Hertzfeld, Program Director at Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections.
To address this risk, the city recently adopted an “alternate method” for retrofitting. This revised approach allows for a more flexible and less costly retrofit process while still recognizing buildings as seismically improved in the city’s database.
“An earthquake retrofit is really about tying everything together—connecting the roof to the walls and the walls to the floors with steel,” explained Hertzfeld. “It’s like connecting the knee bone to the leg bone. It helps the structure move as one unit during a quake and reduces the likelihood of collapse.”
For public transparency, Seattle has published an online map and database that includes the addresses, construction year, number of stories, and other details of buildings needing retrofits.
Despite the city’s efforts, retrofitting is not mandatory—largely due to the high costs involved. However, Miyamoto emphasized that even modest retrofits can significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic failure.
“Don’t aim for perfection. Aim to cut the risk in half,” he said. “That’s where affordable and meaningful change begins.”
So far, only five of the 1,100 buildings listed have been officially marked as retrofitted. City officials say the ultimate goal is to mandate retrofitting once viable funding sources are identified.
“We’re continuing to explore financial pathways to support these upgrades,” said Hertzfeld. “We’re prioritizing areas like the Chinatown-International District and Pioneer Square due to their dense concentration of vulnerable buildings.”
Seattle is also backing legislative efforts such as House Bill 1810, which aims to incentivize seismic retrofits through tax credits. Although the bill did not pass in the most recent session, advocates plan to revisit it in 2026—the 25th anniversary of the Nisqually earthquake.
In the meantime, officials urge residents to follow standard earthquake safety protocols—regardless of whether a building is retrofitted.
“Even in unreinforced masonry buildings, the best response during a quake is to drop, cover, and hold on,” Hertzfeld noted. “Running outside may put you right where the falling debris lands—on the sidewalk.”
As Seattle reflects on past earthquakes and anticipates future ones, the call for proactive seismic safety measures grows louder. With over a thousand buildings still at risk, retrofitting remains a critical challenge—and a vital step toward safeguarding lives in the event of the next big quake.
