AKA: Brush, Barney, and Olson, Lowell, Dental Clinic, Seattle, WA

Structure Type: built works - public buildings - health and welfare buildings

Designers: Kirk, Paul Hayden, AIA (firm); Paul Hayden Kirk (architect)

Dates: constructed 1954

Seattle, WA

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Overview

A recent transplant from Superior, WI, the dentist Lowell A. Olson commissioned the celebrated Seattle Modern architect Paul Hayden Kirk to design this clinic in North Seattle just after they arrived in the city in 1953. An architectural enthusiast, Olson also commissioned the talented Modern architect Roland Terry to design a residence for himself, his wife Carol Louise Peterson and their three children. (See "Arthur Lowell Olson," Seattle Times, 04/01/2018, p. B5.)

Building History

Seattle architect Paul Hayden Kirk (1914-1995) specialized in the design of clinics, and this facility served 1 general practice dentist, and 1 oral surgeon, 1 pediatric dentist, and 1 physician general practitioner. In addition, 2 dental nurses, 1 medical nurse and 1 receptionist worked in the building. It cost 24,425 and had 2,375 sqaure feet of space on 2 floors, 1,500 on the first, and 875 in the basement. Parking could accommodate 10 cars. The exterior walls were sheathed by 1" x 4" cedar boards and cement asbestos boards.

He designed this clinic for Dr. Lowell Arthur Olson (born 07/14/1922 in Menominee, WI-d. 03/20/2018), who worked as a dentist for 35 years in Seattle, retiring in 1988. After his retirement, Olson built a house in Tucson, AZ.

PCAD id: 8254