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New clinic design enhances patient & staff flow to increase patient intake
The program was to completely renovate a small dental clinic on a busy arterial thoroughfare, home to a non-descript but eclectic mix of street retail and service businesses, while establishing a fresh and unique identity. The original street front entry had been previously abandoned and replaced with a nondescript side entry. The entry from the side of the building presented several difficulties. The most severe of which was the division of the lab areas from the operatories, creating restricted circulation through the reception, patient waiting and business areas.
The program solution was to reconfigure the clinic layout for improved operational flow, providing the patients a comfortable space away from the operatories and lab areas. Additionally, the design would give the client a unique identity and allow the building to become an icon along the busy street. Since the completion of the project, the number of patients and patient visits has increased by over 20%. The new layout establishes a north facing public entrance, allowing for a more efficient interior work flow for the client and staff.
The primary feature of the new design is a poured-in-place concrete screen wall at the re-established entry of the building creating an entry court that is shielded from the busy street. The entry court also becomes the back-drop for an abstract sculptural steel pipe screen and canopy which was inspired by both crooked and straight teeth. A new entry feature wall, reception desk and lobby establish the public spaces while the lab was relocated to the middle of the clinic near the operatories and hygienist room allowing for a much improved work flow and providing privacy for the patients. The refurbished interior and new built-in and modern furnishings create a relaxing environment for patients.
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