Sherwood, Oregon
Sherwood Family Pet Clinic
MD’s team worked competently and expeditiously to get the project started and completed. They helped us interview builders to choose the right one for the job…Their in-house interior design department helped complete the design by making the interior of the building beautiful and they monitored the construction process closely to make sure that there were no mistakes along the way. They have a great deal of experience designing and building veterinary facilities. I have been extremely happy with them and strongly recommend using them as your architect for your new veterinary facility.
Bob Merrill | Owner of Sherwood Family Pet Clinic & Bethany Family Pet Clinic
THE CLIENT’S GOALS
Since its inception in 1996, Sherwood Family Pet Clinic has been driven by a singular vision: to provide exceptional veterinary care to the Sherwood community and its neighbors, fostering a warm and inviting environment for patients, clients, and their dedicated team, all while embracing continuous growth and improvement. Starting as a modest 2,200 square foot leasehold in a Sherwood strip mall, the clinic’s unwavering commitment to compassionate care fueled its expansion to 3,100 square feet within five years. However, recognizing the limitations of their existing space in meeting their evolving vision and the growing needs of the community, leadership determined that it was time for their own purpose-built, state-of-the-art veterinary hospital.
Their aspirations were clear: a modern facility that would not only elevate their capacity to provide advanced medical care but also serve as a comfortable and inspiring space for their valued staff and doctors. All while also strategically planning for future expansion. The true distinguishing aspect of this project is the deeply collaborative and inclusive design process. Sherwood recognized that their greatest asset was their own team. By actively engaging their staff and doctors in the design of the new hospital, soliciting their direct input on workflow needs, spatial requirements, and aspirational goals, they fostered a sense of ownership. They ensured the resulting facility would be precisely tailored to their daily operations and long-term ambitions. Beyond this, the team had key expectations for consistent visibility of hospitalized and recovering animals, effective odor and sound control, and ease of maintenance and cleaning.
Year Completed
2022
Project Type
Renovation & Expansion
Size
6,764 SF
Services
Architecture, Interior Design
CHALLENGES
Since its inception in 1996, Sherwood Family Pet Clinic has been driven by a singular vision: to provide exceptional veterinary care to the Sherwood community and its neighbors, fostering a warm and inviting environment for patients, clients, and their dedicated team, all while embracing continuous growth and improvement. Starting as a modest 2,200 square foot leasehold in a Sherwood strip mall, the clinic’s unwavering commitment to compassionate care fueled its expansion to 3,100 square feet within five years. However, recognizing the limitations of their existing space in meeting their evolving vision and the growing needs of the community, leadership determined that it was time for their own purpose-built, state-of-the-art veterinary hospital.
Their aspirations were clear: a modern facility that would not only elevate their capacity to provide advanced medical care but also serve as a comfortable and inspiring space for their valued staff and doctors. All while also strategically planning for future expansion. The true distinguishing aspect of this project is the deeply collaborative and inclusive design process. Sherwood recognized that their greatest asset was their own team. By actively engaging their staff and doctors in the design of the new hospital, soliciting their direct input on workflow needs, spatial requirements, and aspirational goals, they fostered a sense of ownership. They ensured the resulting facility would be precisely tailored to their daily operations and long-term ambitions. Beyond this, the team had key expectations for consistent visibility of hospitalized and recovering animals, effective odor and sound control, and ease of maintenance and cleaning.
THE DESIGN
To achieve this, a layout was implemented, placing treatment room kennels with clear visibility windows directly opposite the doctor’s office. This facilitated constant monitoring and efficient communication. One way we prioritized sound and odor control was with robust demising walls between the dog run area, the central treatment room, and the client-facing waiting and exam rooms, creating distinct zones of acoustic and separation.
A dedicated isolation exam room and a separate isolation hospitalization room were positioned away from the main hospital flow. These featured separate client entrances for patients with potentially contagious conditions. The isolation hospitalization room includes a dedicated viewing window, allowing staff to closely monitor isolated patients without the need for frequent entry, thereby minimizing the risk of disease transmission. Finally, to enhance remote monitoring and reduce unnecessary foot traffic in patient holding areas, hard-wired cameras were mounted for real-time visual access to patients from any desktop computer within the facility.
The primary doctors’ and managers’ offices were intentionally located at the building’s core to lessen travel distances to various departments and provide direct visual range of the dental suite and ICU.
Recognizing the physical demands of veterinary medicine, all exam rooms are equipped with wall-mounted, foldable exam tables and computer arms. To further maximize valuable floor space in critical treatment areas, anesthesia machines with integrated ventilators were thoughtfully wall-mounted at the head of the two surgery suite tables, two dental suite tables, and the two prep tables within the central treatment room, streamlining workflows and reducing clutter.
IMPACT
The impact of the new, state-of-the-art facility on the practice’s financial health has been immediate and significant. The enhanced and expanded space has proven to be a powerful catalyst for attracting new talent, enabling Sherwood Family Pet Clinic to recruit additional veterinarians to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community. This increased staffing capacity, coupled with the more efficient layout and expanded treatment areas, has directly translated into a substantial increase in patient intake and overall profitability. Within a remarkable three-month period following the opening of the new facility, the practice welcomed at least 200 new clients, exceeding their initial projections and demonstrating the strong appeal of the modern, well-designed clinic to the Sherwood community.
Furthermore, the design actively enhances the clinic’s visibility and accessibility within the Sherwood landscape. The building’s clear and prominent presence from the street establishes the clinic as a readily identifiable and trusted option for safe and quality veterinary care.
Consistent with Sherwood Family Pet Clinic’s commitment to Fear-Free practices, the floor plan features distinct and separate exam rooms specifically designed for dogs and cats, minimizing sensory overload and creating a more species-appropriate environment. Natural light immerses the expansive lobby and waiting area as it streams through large windows that create an immediate sense of openness and warmth. Soft and airy wall colors further enhance this bright and modern aesthetic, contributing to a feeling of calm and reassurance for pets and owners.
Extending their overall wellness philosophy to recovery and exercise, secure outdoor yards are directly accessible from each Canine Ward, offering a safe and stimulating environment for staff to walk and interact with their recovering patients. Clients are encouraged to use the spacious on-property outdoor area for walks with their dogs before or after their appointments to lessen nervousness and promote a positive association with the facility.
The well-being of the Sherwood team is equally prioritized. An inviting indoor break room is seamlessly connected to a secure, fenced-in outdoor patio, providing staff with a vital opportunity to step away from the demands of the clinic environment and enjoy fresh air and natural light.
