INNES WILKIN Architecture is an award winning chartered RIBA practice in Bristol, working from Northern England to Sussex and to Cornwall.   Many veterinary clinic and two veterinary hospital  schemes have been completed. Their expertise includes qualifications in town planning and in listed building works, which includes residential, educational and commercial buildings.

DESIGNING A VETERINARY CLINIC - THE SURVIVAL GUIDE

Designing  new veterinary premises or extending the one you already own can be daunting and an overwhelming experience.  This article is aimed to guide you from the start to the finish of your project, and help you to avoid as many tricky situations as possible during the journey.

BUILDING A NEW FACILITY

 Designing a brand new facility sends a message to clients that you are committed to the community and offers a new great flexibility of space.  However there are various other issues that you must consider:

• Feasibility of relocation to a new area
• Projected market must support the new practice
• Site must be large enough, too expensive? How do you earn back money: possible long term leasing, maximise use of the land, use part of the property to generate an income

 REMODELLING A HOSPITAL

 If your current hospital is in an urban or suburban area it's often difficult and extremely expensive to buy land and so remodelling your current building may be the better option.  Clients already know where you are situated and again it shows commitment to the community, it gives the opportunity to reenergise your practice and allows for technological improvements.  However, you must consider various issues that could occur in the situation:

• Will zoning allow for expansion?
• Is the building structurally sound?
• Is the heating and electrical system up to date? Expensive to update? Is it worth it economically?

 THE TEAM

 Constructing a strong support team is one of the most important and initial decisions you should make.  To achieve a successful build you must draw from other people's experiences and streamline the construction process as efficiently as possible in order to avoid any difficulties.

As the owner your responsibilities are:

• Coordinate the design team
• Make the final decisions
• Assign responsibilities to your team
• Establish the project framework

 The architect which you employ has the following responsibilities:

• Design to both your expectations and to a realistic brief
• Reviews budget and requirements to verify that your expectations are reasonable
• Gives valuable perspective on the veterinary industry
• Help you to make sound market decisions
• Create the design to match your vision
• Help select materials
• (After design stage) act as agent in working with governmental agencies and contractor and ensure you receive high quality of workmanship.

THE DESIGN AND BUILDING PROGRAMME

During the entire process of the project you must set realistic expectations and keep the project on track, but most of all enjoy it.

The design and building programme is split into 3 stages;  PREDESIGN, DESIGN and CONSTRUCTION.

NEW IDEAS

Before getting carried away with the architect during the design stage, it's important to keep a level head on what this building should express; should it feel clinical? Agricultural? Homely? To help make your practice/hospital differ from those nearby there are a few options that you may like to consider; changes that help the client become a bigger part of the hospital.

• Client/Patient Interaction Room?
  An area for the clients to come and visit their animal during the recovery stage, a place for reflection and for the client to check up and feel a part of this process 

• Client and Patient in Surgery?

FOR MORE IDEAS ABOUT THIS WITH FURTHER HINTS AND TIPS,  PLEASE SEE OUR NEXT INSTALLMENT IN 4 WEEKS !

DAVID INNES-WILKIN

http://www.inneswilkin.co.uk./index.php/projects/item/132-veterinary#.VL6diEesUW0