Materials matter in veterinary hospital design

When clients tour PetCare Veterinary Hospital, they won’t see a difference in the materials used in the front of the hospital as opposed to the back. That was an important design decision, says Dr. Talcott.

“We want the public to know we are consistent throughout the hospital,” he says. “Some clients are naturally skeptical that a business is all show and no go, especially when building a new facility. We wanted to demonstrate that we are consistent from front to back, in all that we do. Designing the practice consistently is one way to show our commitment to care.”

And while some might say the cost to use high-quality materials throughout the practice is cost-prohibitive, Dr. Talcott would argue otherwise. “We’ve learned with other remodeling projects that, while a material might cost more up front, you’re going to reap the rewards with many more years of use,” he says.

For example, his old facility used laminate countertops. Within a couple of years, the laminate was peeling and tearing off the counters and had to be repaired or replaced. Corian is the surface of choice throughout the facility now, and Dr. Talcott is confident it will still look new in 10 years—even after seeing 45,000 patients a year.

“The extra money you spend on high-quality materials is going to be paid back to you in time, because they are so much more durable and look new for many, many years,” he says. “The materials you choose are the primary impression you make. A 10 percent to 15 percent increase in your budget will pay you back with lower maintenance costs, longer life, and a better impression for clients and staff.”