Fulfilling a dental office design vision and creating a dream space
When Gillian Kelly, DMD, and her husband Michael Kelly, DMD, bought their orthodontic office in Middletown, Connecticut, they had a vision for what they wanted their new space to look like: clean, modern, and leading-edge. But where could they go to fulfill that vision? Keith Campbell, DMD, referred the couple to his design team, FX Dental Design. The Kellys and FX Design team began the work to fulfill their vision and update their practice.
“They requested that we expand their orthodontic bay to add one or two more stations,” said Laura Bordeaux, FX Design founder. “Their expectation was for us to create an open, bright bay that their patients could enjoy.”
The Kellys requested a viewing window from their office into the bay area because they do not want their patients to feel like they’re being monitored. The office had one consult room in the rear of the practice with high vaulted ceilings. They asked the design team to figure out a way to open up the ceilings to roofline height in as much of their building as possible.
“My first priority was to site measure the existing layout and implement it into an auto CAD format,” explained Bordeaeax. “Their existing space was divided into rooms and corridors. Our team determined that eliminating corridors would be the best method to create an open ortho bay and brushing station. On a practical note, I suggested countersinking the mechanical box access panels in the floor below each station’s chair, which allowed access to the air, electrical, and water valves below. “
FX Design brought in a structural engineer to calculate roof loads and horizontal beam locations, which allowed them to raise the ceilings to 15 feet in as many areas as possible. Once they determined which areas could have high ceilings, the team worked with the Kellys to select modern lighting. The lighting they chose provides sculptural shapes and is designed to draw the eye upward.
As for the fresh, clean color pallet the Kellys wanted, the team chose shades of blue accented with stainless steel and whites. The floors are accented with a woven blue luxury vinyl tile that flows like a river and meanders from the waiting area and past the check-in, which directs patients to the brushing station. The same curvilinear shapes are repeated in the front face of the check-in and check-out stations. Undulating stone texture behind the check-in station became the focal point for the Kelly Family Orthodontics logo.
By expanding the front foyer into the check-in desk area, the FX Design team was able to create sweeping views and an open feeling for patients when they enter the office. The waiting area provides patients all of the comforts of home, with features such as a Keurig coffee maker, flat screen TV, cell phone charging stations, and ample natural light to help patients relax while they wait.
Located in the front of the office’s north wing is the new-patient exam room, consult and records room, and panoramic x-ray room. The orthodontist’s private office was moved from the front to the center of the space, adjacent to the ortho bay. FX Design selected a royal blue woven glass pattern for their viewing window. The ortho bay is equipped with new Boyd Industries dental chairs, each with LED dental operatory lights. Built-in benches are strategically placed around perimeter walls for waiting family members.
Drs. Gillian and Michael Kelly are very happy with their new office and feel their vision has been fulfilled. “Thank you for your vision and expertise in creating our dream office,” they wrote to Bordeaux. “We come in each day excited to be in our space. We had only just imagined it and you and your team were a large part in making it a reality. Thank you again for all of your hard work and efforts in creating this space that we are beyond proud of."
Laura Bordeaux, MS, is past president of American Society of Interior Designers Connecticut chapter. She holds BFA degree in environmental design from the University of Houston, and a master’s degree in engineering in construction management from Central Connecticut State University. She is the founder of FX Design, and through her leadership the team has created and performed project management tasks for over four million square feet of interior space, including hundreds of dental offices. For more information visit fxdesigndentalmedical.com.
