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West Bearden Veterinary Hospital - renovation
knoxville, tn
Overall Design Objectives
The West Bearden Veterinary Hospital facility was constructed in 1976
and it's deisgn reflects the design issues of that time. There were two
entrances into two seperate dark waiting rooms that shared the small,
cell-like reception areas. Communication between the two waiting rooms
and the reception space was through small bank teller-like windows. The
windows for the waiting areas were small and the wall finishes were
dark and outdated. Energy efficiency was very low in the front
public spaces leading to uncomfortable times in cold and hot weather.
The exam rooms were not directly entered from the waiting areas and
there was only one door into each exam room used by both the public and
staff. In addition, there was no public restroom easily accessible from
the waiting area. Circulation, both into the hospital and within
the hospital for both clients and staff was confusing and inefficient.
The primary design objectives were to redesign the spaces where the
public enters the facility and the staff and clients interact (waiting,
reception, and exam rooms). The owners wanted to make West Bearden
Veterinary Hospital more client friendly, more appealing to
today's discriminating client, and provide moe efficient spaces in
which the staff can work. To accomplish this we modernized the
appearance (particulary the entrance and public spaces) by bringing in
more natural light, updating the finishes and reconfiguring the spaces
for optimum efficiency.
The spaces that were redesigned were the following:
1. Lobby and waiting spaces
2. Reception
3. Exam rooms
4. Doctor's office
5. Staff room
6. Lab/pharmacy
These spaces were added:
1. Entry vestibule
2. Public restroom
3. Janitor/storage closet
In addition, the owner wanted to update flooring,
wall, and casework finishes and enhance lighting throughout the
hospital. All this was to be achieved in a cost-efficient manner. This
is performed by utilizing the exisiting space and disturbing no
load-bearing walls. The only additional new structure is the entry
vestibule.
Entry Vestibule
A Large modern entry vestibule with much window space was added to the middle of the facade.
The entry vestibule provides several functions. First, it gives the
front a new, modern look which is much more appealing to the client.
Second, it gives the hospital a definite entry point that welcomes the
client and patient into the friendlier hospital. It provides better
energy efficiency making the client, staff and energy bill-paying owner
happier. The vestibule brings in more natural light adding a more
comfortable atmosphere to the promary public space. And finally, from
the waiting and lobby areas, it makes the front spaces appear and feel
larger and more open.
Energy efficiency was vastly improved by the addition of the entry
vestibule and low-E windows. Also, to offset the summer heat of the
parking lot that is directly in front of the hospital, landscaping was
added which also directs clients into the hospital building.
contact:
West Bearden Veterinary Hospital
8706 Unicorn Drive
Knoxville, TN 37923
865.690.4141
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