May 30, 2006
OK, so you’ve decided to build a new dental office to house your practice and you’re assembling your team. You’ve selected your dental consultant and your equipment vendor. Your commercial real estate broker is in the process of identifying the perfect space.
What could possibly be missing from this equation?
Answer: your dental architect.
A good dental architect can take an otherwise run-of-the-mill dental office and turn it into something special – special in how it functions, special in how is looks, special in how it presents you and your practice to the community.
By addressing some of the frequently asked questions, I hope to describe what a qualified architect can bring to the design of your new dental office.
Having designed dozens of dental offices here at JoeArchitect, we have a pretty good idea of some of the questions you may have regarding the design and construction process:
“Joe, my dental-equipment vendor just drew me this great floor plan. It shows my reception area, all my operatories, everything I need for my new office. Why would I need to hire an architect?”
The first answer to that question is simple: it’s the law. In most places around the country, it is required that all drawings intended for commercial construction be stamped by a licensed architect.
A more descriptive way to answer that question is to provide you with this visual image:
The floor plan your equipment vendor just handed you probably fits on a single 8 ½-by-11-inch piece of paper. A good set of construction documents for a typical dental office is made up of about 20 sheets of drawings that include architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing documents, all the information necessary for your general contractor to properly build out your space.
Dental-equipment vendors are experts in dental equipment. They are not trained architects, nor do they wish to be. Your dental architect will work closely with your equipment vendor to incorporate all relevant equipment information into the project.
“We just remodeled our den. I was thinking about hiring the same architect to design my new office.”
Bad idea. While your residential architect probably did a yeoman’s job on the den, he or she is probably not the right fit for your dental office.
Dental offices, while generally small in scale, are quite sophisticated in their mechanical systems. You will best be served in working with an architect who has several dental offices under his or her belt.
It’s analogous to going to your orthodontist for a root canal. They can probably work their way through it – after all, they performed a couple back in ’85 – but do you really want them going to school on you?
The same can be said when selecting your general contractor. Make sure they are commercial contractors and have some dental experience. Ask your architect and equipment vendor for their recommendations. Having an experienced general contractor on the job is going to make their lives much easier and will result in a smoother construction process overall.
“At what point in the process should I get my architect involved?”
The sooner the better. If you are in the process of looking at space or land for your new office, this is an ideal time to get your architect involved. Your architect knows what to look for and will raise a red flag when necessary. Items such as insufficient power to the space can turn an otherwise great location into a pricey proposition. Zoning issues on a particular piece of land can render it unsuitable for your needs. Lean on your design professional as you seek out that perfect location.
“I want a nice office but I’m not looking for the Taj Majal. Can you work within my budget?”
Good design is not synonymous with expensive design, and can be achieved at many sizes of budget. The difference between a $100-per-square-foot office and a $200-per-square foot office comes down to the selection of finishes for the space: granite countertops vs. plastic laminate, carpeting vs. stone tile, etc. Every decision you make regarding your level of finish has a direct effect on your cost of construction.
A good dental architect will guide you through this process. By asking the right questions, your architect will help you select finishes that are both affordable and appropriate to your style.
“I’m not experienced in construction. How can I be sure that the general contractor is giving me what I’ve asked for and maintaining a quality level of construction?
When you hire your architect, be sure that his or her services extend through the completion of construction. Your architect is your “agent”, interpreting the drawings and attending weekly meetings during the course of construction. Your architect can see to it that all specifications stated in the drawings are adhered to by the general contractor. At the completion of construction, your architect will accompany you on a “punch-list” walk through your office. The punch-list will include all outstanding items that need to be addressed to your satisfaction before your project is considered “complete”
“Why is the quality of my office design important to my business?”
The power of good dental office design can be quantified on a number of levels:
The design of your dental office is an opportunity for you to express yourself through your built environment. Don’t squander it. Working with a good dental architect can open up a world of possibilities.
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Joseph Miller, a member of the American Institute of Architects, is principal architect and co-owner of JoeArchitect in Denver.
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