Belltown Dental

Site

An urban 1,789sf corner storefront space with 18'-6" high ceilings and an irregular column grid. The existing floor area was too small for the program requirements, while the ceiling height was too tall for the back-of-house uses.

Program

The owner requested a “Belltown Hip” dental office that doesn’t feel like a dental office. Due to the budget, the equipment and casework had to be industry-standard premanufactured units.

Solution

The basic solution involved maintaining the full height at the patient areas along the window walls while inserting a mezzanine in the interior corner. The construction cost per square foot of the 710sf mezzanine was significantly less than the purchase price of the raw space. Thus, the mezzanine proved financially effective and provided the owner with the required floor area for current use and future flexibility. Given the tight budget and modular nature of the operatory casework, a kit-of-parts approach was used for the systems and finishes at the patient areas. Unistrut frames act as an armature for lighting, audio, and HVAC systems, as well as the reception desk and waiting area seating. At the treatment area, sound absorbing panels are attached to the frames above the chairs to soften the acoustics and to create a more intimate space for each operatory.

Recognition

Project of the Month

AIA Seattle & Daily Journal of Commerce

Daily Journal of Commerce

"New Belltown Office Breaks the Dental Mold"

Credits

General Contractor

Takisaki Contractors

Photography

Michael Moore & E|FA