Dr. Grau / Wurster, Historic Adaptive Reuse, 2006
Size: 2,500 s.f.
Location: Niles, California
This building was designed by William Wurster in 1941 for one of the few surgeons between Oakland and San Jose. The building was effectively a one-man hospital with one medical practitioner, Dr. Eugene Grau. Today it would be referred to as a medical office building, and it included x-ray, surgery, and post treatment lodging all wheel chair accessible. The doctor and the building were truly progressive. Over time, the building fell into disrepair and was subdivided into two studio apartments and office space.
The sheer utility of the building and its assumed expansion in the back (as planned by Wurster) make it adaptable to a variety of uses. This plan adapts the building for full office use, considering professional services such as engineering, graphic design, travel agency, real estate and others.
The front portion of the building will be refurbished, while remaining unaltered. The rear area is expanded and includes a western-exposure solar screen and a weather canopy, composed to complement and contrast Wurster's original cantilevered canopy at the street front.
