Building Assessment and Feasibility Study for Adaptive Reuse

LOCATION: 

Whittier, CA

CLIENT: 

City of Whittier

TIMELINE: 

Completed 2022

Dunbar Architecture was awarded the project to prepare a Building Rehabilitation Study to further the goal of preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse of the East Wing of the Whittier City Hall in Whittier, California. This study was completed at the request of the City of Whittier as due diligence for the evaluation and re-purposing of the east wing of the building from its previous use by the Police Department.
Designed in 1954 by local architect William H. Harrison, the City Hall and Police Department wing were the focal point and initial building project of the Whittier City Civic Center Masterplan. The buildings were completed in 1955.

The Building Assessment Report evaluated the historical significance and integrity of the East Wing and provided an assessment of both interior and exterior features and conditions. In the evaluation of the physical aspects, the identification of character defining features was essential to take into consideration in the rehabilitation and reuse of the building. A rough order of magnitude was provided to address years of deferred maintenance and bring the building up to current code and ADA requirements.