Case Study - West Chester Veterinary Care, West Chester, Ohio
The first thing was to determine the location for a new hospital. Between the client (my wife) and I, we did heavy research into properties in the northern Cincinnati area. We chose to build new for two reasons: rehab of a building was going to be too costly and we found a great site to build on.
Next, we had to go through the process of a zoning variance with Hellard Design providing drawings for municipality review.
Now that a site was chosen, the design process of the building began. This is where working closely with the client is a must as I like for the design process to be very hands on between us. We worked our way through many designs and ended up nailing down a design that made everyone happy. For the design, attention was placed on what equipment was going to be purchased so as to maximize the flow while minimizing wasted space. Again, heavy client interaction combined with a designer who understands veterinary hospital requirements will yield the best results. From the operating room to the dog ward, from exam rooms to the kennel, every detail was poured over aggressively because it's far easier to make changes on paper than it is to make the same changes in the field.
With the building design complete, we next began the process of choosing finishes and working with the contractor on the site plan. Our service doesn't stop at the front door! We reviewed the zoning code to determine building placement and to design the parking lot within regulation.
Since this project required hands-on attention, we had many site visits and attended several weekly meetings with the general contractor to make sure everything was going smoothly and to address any issues that came up. Finally, we designed the reception desk and cat condos and worked with the cabinetry builder to get these fabricated.
|
