| Divide and conquer
| Clearly separating practice functions set the tone for VCA Arroyo Animal Hospital--and created a unique design feature. Then the design team added a superbly crafted 7,850 square-foot floor plan and thoughtfully chosen materials, securing the 2005 Veterinary Economics Hospital of the Year award. | |  MORE ARTICLES
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| A look at the judging
| | An inside look at the judging for the Veterinary Economics Hospital Design Competition | | | A tale of two practices
| | Dr. Steven Dunbar merged a general practice and a 24-hour emergency center into one new building. And the consistent, attractive use of color; high-quality materials; impressive client-interaction areas; and more helped Yorba Regional Animal Hospital in Anaheim, Calif., rise to the top in Veterinary Economics annual design competition. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Arizona hospital puts clients first
| | Ross Lirtzman, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, wanted to make a statement with his new specialty practice in Scottsdale, Ariz. Everything was taken into account to make clients and patients feel relaxed, much like in a modern human doctor's office or hospital. | | | Her perfect plan
| | A planned community in Stillwater, Minn., is just the right fit for Dr. Ginger Garlie's Rivertown Animal Hospital, which mixes modern medicine, neighborly warmth, and old-fashioned charm. | | | Time for a tune-up
| | The phrase "purrs like a kitten" has a whole new meaning in this former automotive repair shop. Alicia Pet Care Center in Mission Viejo, Calif., provides a different kind of service. | | | The beat goes on
| | Only in New York City can you find a former reggae club converted into a veterinary practice in the center of a trendy, bustling art district. West Chelsea Veterinary used modern design and an efficient floorplan to capture a 2009 merit award. | | | Simple approach: Stunning results
| | Sometimes a simple approach is best. Such is the case with the Animal Clinic of Sterling Heights in Sterling Heights, Mich., which features clean lines and an uncluttered approach to design. | | | Nice curves
| | Dr. Keith Hilinski sought an upscale look when designing his 6,500-square-foot facility. | | | Animal Hospital of Humble
| | This Texas hospital is anything but modest and can boast the client growth to prove it. | | | Pouncey Tract Veterinary Hospital in Glen Allen, Va.
| | Dr. Brad Zubowsky had a plan to own two hospitals ... | | | The whole enchilada
| | A humble-sized facility loaded with extras, Atascocita Animal Hospital in Humble, Texas, is the 2007 Veterinary Economics Hospital of the Year. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Medicine in the mountains
| | A relaxing vacation inspired Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital in Flat Rock, N.C., a rustic masterpiece that reflects the hospital's beautiful mountainous surroundings. | | | Wide open spaces
| | An open floor plan helps this Ohio clinic function efficiently. | | | Out of the woods
| | This veterinary clinic fits in with its earthy surroundings. | | | Under one roof
| | Before, Drs. Scott McLelland and Charles Sleeth practiced in an 1,800-square-foot facility with a thriving boarding service, but they needed a new space. The building couldn't accommodate their growing practice—and the boarding facility was located across the parking lot with its own receptionist, separate from the clinic. | | | A clear advantage
| | Moving from a 3,500-square-foot facility to an 8,500-square-foot facility allowed Dr. Scott Linick, FAVD, to merge with another practice, hire two doctors, and add 7,000 new patients to his team's workload. | | |
New hospital reuses, recycles from the old
| | Temporary space, recycled materials, and the passing away of a family member: How one family pulled through and triumphed with their Hospital Design Merit Award winner. | | | Only in Boca
| | Some might consider it over the top. But an affluent client base made high-end, luxury design a must for the owners of Calusa Veterinary Center in Boca Raton, Fla. | | | Swapping space
| | When neighbors closed the door on expansion, Washtenaw Veterinary Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., negotiated a lot | | | Everything's bigger in Texas
| | A large group of owners pooled money over a long period of time to build the Emergency Animal Clinic of Collin County, serving four cities. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Her perfect plan
| | A planned community in Stillwater, Minn., is just the right fit for Dr. Ginger Garlie's Rivertown Animal Hospital, which mixes modern medicine, neighborly warmth, and old-fashioned charm. | | | Arizona hospital puts clients first
| | Ross Lirtzman, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, wanted to make a statement with his new specialty practice in Scottsdale, Ariz. Everything was taken into account to make clients and patients feel relaxed, much like in a modern human doctor's office or hospital. | | | The hills are alive
| | An old farmhouse gave way to a cutting-edge veterinary facility in Floyds Knobs, Ind. Hillside Animal Clinic uses practice efficiency and a handy drive-through window to put clients first. | | | Time for a tune-up
| | The phrase "purrs like a kitten" has a whole new meaning in this former automotive repair shop. Alicia Pet Care Center in Mission Viejo, Calif., provides a different kind of service. | | | Medicine in the mountains
| | A relaxing vacation inspired Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital in Flat Rock, N.C., a rustic masterpiece that reflects the hospital's beautiful mountainous surroundings. | | | The beat goes on
| | Only in New York City can you find a former reggae club converted into a veterinary practice in the center of a trendy, bustling art district. West Chelsea Veterinary used modern design and an efficient floorplan to capture a 2009 merit award. | | | Simple approach: Stunning results
| | Sometimes a simple approach is best. Such is the case with the Animal Clinic of Sterling Heights in Sterling Heights, Mich., which features clean lines and an uncluttered approach to design. | | | All in the family
| | The interior design choices are stunning and team members have plenty of room to breathe. But it's a team-first attitude that gives Bakersfield Veterinary Hospital in Bakersfield, Calif., it's true identity. | | | 2009 Hospital of the Year winner: Rainy days, sunny outlook
| | Hurricane Ike tried to take down this practice just months after it was built. But Westbury Animal Hospital in Houston weathered the storm and became our 2009 Hospital of the Year. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Interactive floor plan: California Veterinary Specialists
| | Check out this floor plan from a 2008 Hospital Design Merit Award winner. The three views of this Carlsbad, Calif., hospital include the base floor plan, traffic flow, and zoning. | | | Meeting of the minds
| | Planning, practice, and attention to detail make this Campbell, Calif., multi-location specialty practice stand out. And they're not done yet. | | | Michigan Veterinary Specialists in Southfield, Mich.
| | Dr. Dan Lorimer, DACVO, wanted his specialty practice to look professional. For that, he needed respectable neighbors. To attract those neighbors, he bought six acres and built a 40,000-square-foot building—which was not his hospital. | | | A gutted building finds new life
| | Dr. Mona Rosenberg worked with her Southern California Realtor for several years until she found the perfect space. | | | Only in Boca
| | Some might consider it over the top. But an affluent client base made high-end, luxury design a must for the owners of Calusa Veterinary Center in Boca Raton, Fla. | | | Measure twice, cut once ... planning ahead pays off
| | One doctor's dedication to creating a solid business plan and the perfect floor plan pays off for Superior Animal Hospital and Boarding Suites in Superior, Wis. | | | Everything's bigger in Texas
| | A large group of owners pooled money over a long period of time to build the Emergency Animal Clinic of Collin County, serving four cities. | | | Achieving a warm, urban design
| | This facility offers a mix of holistic and Western medicine. A warm, calming, and artistic atmosphere. And enough space for the specialty medical team to care for pets and their owners. | | | A cutting-edge look for cutting-edge care
| | The key goals: A modern design that reflects the state-of-the-art specialty care the team provides. A good experience for visiting clients. And a facility that's comfortable for team members—and makes them proud. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Out of the woods
| | This veterinary clinic fits in with its earthy surroundings. | | | Bringing elegance to equine practice
| | The owners say they'd be happy to live in their new equine practice. Here's how they achieved this level of comfort. | | | Relishing the rustic charm
| | Drs. Lamar and Amber Crossland knew they wanted Sunset Canyon Veterinary Clinic in central Texas to appeal to long-time ranchers as well as to the Austin urbanites who’d fled the city for greener pastures in Dripping Springs, Texas. And the mixed animal practice also needed to accommodate a gamut of patients, from livestock to polo horses to pampered pooches. One last requirement: seamless movement between the large animal and small animal sides of the practice, because all staff members worked in both areas. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| 10 ways to build a green veterinary hospital
| | Building green is all the rage, but it can be tough to see through the fog of hazy information and ideas. Here's a guide to clearing the air and creating your dream earth-friendly hospital. | | | Hospital Design Planning Workbook: Stocking your new hospital
| | This checklist covers almost everything you'll need to make opening day a success. | | | Practice Profiles: Companion Class IV laser therapy (Sponsored by Litecure)
| | Class IV laser therapy is a profit center that empowers you to provide advanced care and market your practice as a state-of-the-art facility. | | | The 5 don'ts of equipment buying
| | Wishy-washy decisions on purchases and buying equipment you don't need can blow your budget. Save money by avoiding these mistakes. | | | What to put inside
| | Drains and air-return ducts may not seem sexy, but thoughtful choices about behind-the-scenes tools let your new practice work harder for you. | | | Find the right level of comfort for every practice area
| | A chart to help you find the right level of comfort for the different areas in your practice. | | | Handling heat and humidity
| | You want to build a safe, comfortable work environment. Not too hot. Not too cold. Here's how to make sure your facility is "just right." | | | Check features when buying a radiograph
| | Buying the right radiograph machine takes research. Dr. David S. Biller, Dipl. ACVR, a radiology professor at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., suggests you consider these factors when choosing a unit: | | | Is an ultrasound machine a 'sound' investment for your practice?
| | You'd probably like to own an ultrasound machine, but before spending your hard-earned money, take time to determine whether you really need and will use one. "Ultrasound is to soft tissues what radiographs are to the bone, and we certainly see more soft tissue injuries than we do bone injuries," says Dr. Tracy Turner, Professor of Large Animal Surgery at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn. "You can't live without an ultrasound machine if you do lots of reproduction and lameness work. And it's also useful for visualizing the heart, lungs, pleural cavity, intestines, and other internal organs." | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Building a practice in the fast lane
| | Dr. Robert Goodman took an old car dealership and turned it into his dream practice. | | | Deep in the heart of Texas
| | A facility that includes regional architectural elements and projects warmth and southern hospitality, Crossroads Animal Clinic in Houston is an example of what you can achieve with design. | | | A tale of two practices
| | Dr. Steven Dunbar merged a general practice and a 24-hour emergency center into one new building. And the consistent, attractive use of color; high-quality materials; impressive client-interaction areas; and more helped Yorba Regional Animal Hospital in Anaheim, Calif., rise to the top in Veterinary Economics annual design competition. | | | Small space? Limited budget? Think big!
| | The careful design of this 3,010-square-foot hospital and the luxurious finishings belie the small footprint and reasonable price tag. | | | One site, two facilities, two project monitors
| | Setting goals for saving and developing a plan early helped these doctors develop the perfect new facility for West Park Animal Hospital just six inches away. | | | Delivering a modern profile
| | A new design that emphasizes natural light and delivers a commanding presence in the neighborhood led to a 40 percent increase in business for the 5,750-square-foot Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| The hills are alive
| | An old farmhouse gave way to a cutting-edge veterinary facility in Floyds Knobs, Ind. Hillside Animal Clinic uses practice efficiency and a handy drive-through window to put clients first. | | | All in the family
| | The interior design choices are stunning and team members have plenty of room to breathe. But it's a team-first attitude that gives Bakersfield Veterinary Hospital in Bakersfield, Calif., it's true identity. | | | 2009 Hospital of the Year winner: Rainy days, sunny outlook
| | Hurricane Ike tried to take down this practice just months after it was built. But Westbury Animal Hospital in Houston weathered the storm and became our 2009 Hospital of the Year. | | | Interactive floor plan: California Veterinary Specialists
| | Check out this floor plan from a 2008 Hospital Design Merit Award winner. The three views of this Carlsbad, Calif., hospital include the base floor plan, traffic flow, and zoning. | | | Inside the fishbowl
| | An open facility is more than a building design; it's a way of life at California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad, Calif. The doctors at this practice share space and cases in a convenient, free-flowing facility. | | | Building a practice in the fast lane
| | Dr. Robert Goodman took an old car dealership and turned it into his dream practice. | | | Meeting of the minds
| | Planning, practice, and attention to detail make this Campbell, Calif., multi-location specialty practice stand out. And they're not done yet. | | | Seeing green: Practice harmonizes with its environment
| | Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Care's use of green building practices ensures that its relationship with the environment will be long and harmonious. | | | Michigan Veterinary Specialists in Southfield, Mich.
| | Dr. Dan Lorimer, DACVO, wanted his specialty practice to look professional. For that, he needed respectable neighbors. To attract those neighbors, he bought six acres and built a 40,000-square-foot building—which was not his hospital. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Once upon a leasehold
| | A husband and wife team took a leasehold space in Simi Valley, Calif., and worked on it until they built a happy ending for Simi Valley Animal Hospital—one with satisfied clients and lots of growth. | | | A renewed commitment to cats
| | A devastating fire forced this doctor to rebuild his historic New Orleans practice. He took the opportunity to make a bold statement about his team's special focus on feline care. | | | Small space? Limited budget? Think big!
| | The careful design of this 3,010-square-foot hospital and the luxurious finishings belie the small footprint and reasonable price tag. | | | Big dreams in a small space
| | It's not smoke and mirrors, but glass and an efficient floor plan that make Animal Health Center at Weston, a 2,600-square-foot practice, seem larger than life. | | | Keeping the design in the family
| | Innovative space-saving solutions, a flawless floor plan, and lots of love went into designing the 1,800-square-foot Landen-Maineville Animal Hospital. | | | Catering to feline fancies
| | At Cat Clinic of Destin, cats are considered top dog, and Dr. Dorothy Flynn designed her Florida hospital to accommodate feisty felines and their occasionally finicky owners. | | | Designing for dentistry
| | The only board-certified veterinary dentist in south Florida, Dr. Jan Bellows created a professional showcase to manage a flow of dental referrals and his general-practice clients in comfort. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Video: Veterinary architect Dan Chapel tells you what to look for in a building site
| | Video: Veterinary architect Dan Chapel tells you what to look for in a building site | | | 10 ways to build a green veterinary hospital
| | Building green is all the rage, but it can be tough to see through the fog of hazy information and ideas. Here's a guide to clearing the air and creating your dream earth-friendly hospital. | | | Q&A: 5 keys to a great location
| | We're ready to build a new facility. What are the most important things to look for in a location? | | | Q&A: Building versus renovating
| | Consider your financial situation when deciding between building a new facility and renovating an existing one. | | | Do you, doctor, lease ... or build?
| | It's the question that every new generation of veterinarians faces. | | | Rent right
| | You don?t have to own a facility to make a major impact on your practice?s layout and design. | | | Selecting the perfect site
| | There's more to a good site than the right location. Here's a look at the other factors you need to consider. | | |
Location, location, location
| | Your choice to work in the beauty of the countryside or on the teeming street corner in view of all passersby may influence your state of mind—but it also affects your pay. The Brakke Management and Behavior Study, released in 1999, shows that practitioners who choose to live in rural settings generally earn less than their urban counterparts. For example, practice owners who work in communities of 2,500 people or fewer earn 21 percent less than owners who live in larger communities. | | | Consider your contract before you start a practice
| | Q. I’ve worked as an associate at an equine clinic for several years. Now I’m ready to start my own mobile practice, but I signed a noncompete agreement with the clinic I currently work for. Can I still practice in this area, or do I need to move to another location? What other legal issues do I need to consider? | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Hospital Design Conference video: Rethink your parking space width
| | Veterinary Economics Editor Kristi Reimer reports with a hot parking tip from the 2009 conference. | | | Image is everything
| | Integrate your facility's design with your business cards and other materials to help your marketing message hit home. | | | Live from CVC West: Improving curb appeal
| | The first things clients see when they approach your practice is the sign. In this audio clip from CVC West, architect Dan Chapel gives tips for making your sign work for you. | | | Cross the finish line with style
| | Show off your new building or renovation by hosting an open house. | | | "No one can find my practice!"
| | Q. I've owned a small animal practice in a suburb for nearly a year, and business is fair. There's one big problem, though: No one can find my practice. It's not on a main thoroughfare or a corner lot, so we don't attract many new clients--if any--from drive-by traffic. Even my established clients complain the hospital's too far off the beaten path. Are we sunk in this location? Is there anything we can do to try and make it work? | | | Getting attention in a strict strip mall
| | Q. I lease space in a strip mall that imposes strict regulations on signage. For instance, my sign must sit flush against the building and not stick up above the roof, I have to use muted colors, and it must say "Veterinary Hospital" instead of my clinic name. Without a distinct building and sign, how can I make my presence known? | | |
Look through clients' eyes
| | If you come to work every day, park in back, and hurry in the staff entrance, you may be missing out on the little things that detract from clients' impressions of your facility. To identify areas where your practice falls short, look at your hospital the way pet owners do. Here's a guide: | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| The hills are alive
| | An old farmhouse gave way to a cutting-edge veterinary facility in Floyds Knobs, Ind. Hillside Animal Clinic uses practice efficiency and a handy drive-through window to put clients first. | | | Small-practice warmth; big-time convenience
| | The goal: Build a facility big enough to accommodate future growth without losing the small-practice feel. The result: Alexandria Veterinary Clinic PetCare Center in Alexandria, Minn., a warm practice that's built to last. | | | Relishing the rustic charm
| | Drs. Lamar and Amber Crossland knew they wanted Sunset Canyon Veterinary Clinic in central Texas to appeal to long-time ranchers as well as to the Austin urbanites who’d fled the city for greener pastures in Dripping Springs, Texas. And the mixed animal practice also needed to accommodate a gamut of patients, from livestock to polo horses to pampered pooches. One last requirement: seamless movement between the large animal and small animal sides of the practice, because all staff members worked in both areas. | | | Tour a Texas homeland
| | Dr. Timothy J. Thompson wanted to own a practice so much, he says he would've bought a lemonade stand with a dog run attached. So he and his wife, Dr. Shannon A. Thompson, both 1994 Texas A&M University graduates, only spent a year as associates before buying Hope Animal Clinic in Marble Falls, Texas. They leased the 850-square-foot building and within a year bought land to build the mixed animal facility of their dreams. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Video: Building a green practice: Part 9
| | Choosing environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. | | | Swapping space
| | When neighbors closed the door on expansion, Washtenaw Veterinary Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., negotiated a lot | | | Modern facility, farmhouse charm
| | For 34 years, the doctors at Gunbarrel Veterinary Clinic in Boulder, Colo., cared for pets out of an old farmhouse. The building consisted of two exam rooms, a cramped treatment area, and a noisy kennel that shared a wall with an exam room. | | | Combatting noise and odor
| | "If your clinic stinks, clients may worry that your medical care stinks, too," says Mark Hafen, AIA, an architect with Animal Arts/Gates Hafen Cochrane in Boulder, Colo. "You can't prevent noise and odors from occurring, but you can prevent them from spreading." Hafen, a Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member, suggests that you: | | | Minimize noise and odor
| | When people shop for used cars, they kick the tires and check under the hood. When they shop for veterinary services, the evaluation is more subtle. But in both cases, they form lasting opinions based on first impressions. That's why it's critical to minimize noise and odor. Simply put, if your clinic stinks, clients may worry that your medical care stinks, too. | | | How do I build my hospital so animal noise won't disturb my neighbors?
| | Q. In a residential neighborhood or commercial leasehold, how can I design my facility so barking dogs don't disturb neighbors? | | | Protect your hospital employees from excessive noise levels
| | Q. In my practice's kennel and grooming areas, staff members can encounter noise levels OSHA calls damaging. To keep noise from invading other areas, I've contained it in these sections. Short of a major redesign, how can I reduce exposure? | | | Does your hospital have sick-building syndrome?
| | The World Health Organization estimates that 30 percent of buildings exhibit sick-building syndrome. How can you tell if your hospital suffers from SBS? Your staff may complain of headaches; eye, nose, or throat irritation; itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty concentrating; fatigue; or sensitivity to odors--symptoms that disappear once a person leaves the hospital. Although such symptoms may indicate another illness, studies show that indoor air pollution can exacerbate health problems. | | | Air exchanges and proper ventilation in kennel design
| | Q. How does one calculate how much air movement is appropriate in a kennel? I'm concerned that several air exchanges per hour would pump large amounts of heat and air conditioning through the wall we so carefully sealed and insulated. A large window unit cools our kennel; should I allow it to vent at all times? Is an interior circulating fan required to move out stale air? | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Modern facility, farmhouse charm
| | For 34 years, the doctors at Gunbarrel Veterinary Clinic in Boulder, Colo., cared for pets out of an old farmhouse. The building consisted of two exam rooms, a cramped treatment area, and a noisy kennel that shared a wall with an exam room. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Once upon a leasehold
| | A husband and wife team took a leasehold space in Simi Valley, Calif., and worked on it until they built a happy ending for Simi Valley Animal Hospital—one with satisfied clients and lots of growth. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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| Arizona hospital puts clients first
| | Ross Lirtzman, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, wanted to make a statement with his new specialty practice in Scottsdale, Ariz. Everything was taken into account to make clients and patients feel relaxed, much like in a modern human doctor's office or hospital. | |
| | Time for a tune-up
| | The phrase "purrs like a kitten" has a whole new meaning in this former automotive repair shop. Alicia Pet Care Center in Mission Viejo, Calif., provides a different kind of service. | | | Medicine in the mountains
| | A relaxing vacation inspired Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital in Flat Rock, N.C., a rustic masterpiece that reflects the hospital's beautiful mountainous surroundings. | | | Simple approach: Stunning results
| | Sometimes a simple approach is best. Such is the case with the Animal Clinic of Sterling Heights in Sterling Heights, Mich., which features clean lines and an uncluttered approach to design. | | | All in the family
| | The interior design choices are stunning and team members have plenty of room to breathe. But it's a team-first attitude that gives Bakersfield Veterinary Hospital in Bakersfield, Calif., it's true identity. | | | 2009 Hospital of the Year winner: Rainy days, sunny outlook
| | Hurricane Ike tried to take down this practice just months after it was built. But Westbury Animal Hospital in Houston weathered the storm and became our 2009 Hospital of the Year. | | | Inside the fishbowl
| | An open facility is more than a building design; it's a way of life at California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad, Calif. The doctors at this practice share space and cases in a convenient, free-flowing facility. | | | Wide open spaces
| | An open floor plan helps this Ohio clinic function efficiently. | | | Nice curves
| | Dr. Keith Hilinski sought an upscale look when designing his 6,500-square-foot facility. | | | MORE ARTICLES
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