2013 Veterinary Economics Hospital Design People's Choice Award winner: Melrose Animal Clinic

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Twenty-eight practices entered the 2013 Veterinary Economics Hospital Design Competition-you picked your favorite.

The people have spoken! Meet the 2013 Veterinary Economics Hospital Design People's Choice Award Winner: Melrose Animal Clinic in Melrose, Mass.

Using warm colors, comfortable client seating, and top-shelf finishes, the practice’s owner Dr. Stewart Silverman wanted to design a welcoming atmosphere that big-box competitors and online pharmacies couldn't compete with.

“Our goal was to create a new facility that fostered development of a real and lasting bond with our clients emphasizing quality, compassion and the enhancement of the client experience,” he says.

The exam rooms are set up so the doctors never have to turn their back to the client—even when they’re using the computer. The Melrose team was also determined to keep overhead costs at a manageable level and avoid taking on a large debt load. Retail space was virtually eliminated in favor of utilizing the space for clinical or client interaction purposes, Dr. Stewart says.

Located seven miles from Boston, in the heart of downtown Melrose, Dr. Stewart decided it would be best to keep the clinic's ideal location and go with a practice remodel. His small—but efficient—1,817 square-foot practice grew from a two-exam room facility into a full-service, four-exam room hospital.

"It's like the cabin on a boat," says the clinic's veterinary architect of Animal Arts Design in Bolder, Colo. "No space is wasted, and all the parts and pieces are arranged in a way that maximizes useable space and ensures a comfortable flow."

Curious why People’s Choice voters fell in love with Melrose Animal Clinic? Check out the kudos that rolled in with the votes below:

“In today’s world of out of control cost escalation, there’s a lot to love about a $500k clinic.”

“Bright design complements function—this is a cleanly laid out veterinary hospital.”

“The waiting room is soothing to both animals and their guardians. Most exam rooms have natural light. It’s an excellent design.”

“Melrose’s new design and layout is both very functional and aesthetically appealing.”

Want to review the specs and photos of all this year’s 28 entries? Press here for the full list.

Melrose Animal Clinic, Melrose, Mass.

Owner:Dr. Stewart Silverman

Associates: 3 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $189.24

Total cost: $533,718.69

Building cost: $425,025.97 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 2,540

Structure type: Leasehold alteration

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4 Paws Animal Hospital, Wynantskill, N.Y.

Owner: Dr. Lisa Wiggins

Associates: 1

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $191

Total cost: $1,808,335

Building cost: $1,132,936 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 5,941

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Akron Animal Hospital, Akron, N.Y.

Owner: Dr. Sandra Corrie

Associates: 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $185.69

Total cost: $1,551,221

Building cost: $798,488 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 4,300

Structure type: New freestanding building

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All Pets Animal Hospital, Katy, Texas

Owner:Dr. Patrick Choyce

Associates: 3 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 8

Cost/sq. ft.: $175

Total cost: $2,525,000

Building cost: $1,450,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 11,300

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Allandale Veterinary Hospital, Ontario, Canada

Owner:Dr. Patricia Lechten

Associates: 4

Exam rooms: 6

Cost/sq. ft.: $284.54

Total cost: $4,011,110

Building cost: $2,481,205 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 8,720

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Animal Care Hospital, Lafayette, La.

Owner:Dr. Michael Guidry

Associates: 0

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $146

Total cost: $796,000

Building cost: $440,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 3,000

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Animal Emergency and Referral Center, Flowood, Miss.

Owners:Drs. James Anderson, Troy Major, Tip Hailey, Scott Segrest, Adrian Whittington, Michael Ferriss, Mitch Clemmer, Steve Green, Chelcie Hutchinson

Associates: 4 full-time, 10 part-time

Exam rooms: 3

Cost/sq. ft.: $223

Total cost: $1,845,300

Building cost: $1,160,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 5,200

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Animal Neurology, Rehab & ER Center, Commerce, Mich.

Owner: Dr. Michael Wolf

Associates: 2 full-time, 3 part-time

Exam rooms: 7

Cost/sq. ft.: $257

Total cost: $3,920,000

Building cost: $3,920,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 9,233

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Banning Veterinary Hospital, Banning, Calif.

Owner:Dr. Ryan Westbrook

Associates: 4

Exam rooms: 11

Cost/sq. ft.: $100.40

Total cost: $1,962,335

Building cost: $1,453,808 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 14,479

Structure type: Leasehold conversion

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Bartels Busack Pet Hospital Resort & Spa, Parma, Ohio

Owner:Dr. Ronald Busack

Associates: 2

Exam rooms: 9

Cost/sq. ft.: $127.06

Total cost: $2,757,317

Building cost: $1,690,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 13,300

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Capital Veterinary Clinic, Austin, Texas

Owner: Dr. Matthew Scroggs

Associates: 2 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 5

Cost/sq. ft.: $181.61

Total cost: $1,980,644

Building cost: $908,052 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 4,950

Structure type: New freestanding building

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The Complete Pet Animal Hospital, Litchfield Park, Ariz.

Owner: Dr. Nancy Buczek

Associates: 1

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: N/A

Total cost: $182,821.55

Building cost: $5,150 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 2,200

Structure type: Leasehold alteration

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Country View Pet Hospital, Wilmington, Ohio

Owner: Dr. Jill Thompson

Associates: 1 full-time, 2 part-time

Exam rooms: 7

Cost/sq. ft.: $113

Total cost: $1,750,000

Building cost: $1,090,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 9,650

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Elemental Veterinary Center and Pet Spa, Columbus, Ohio

Owner: Dr. Jane Flores

Associates: 0

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $52.35

Total cost: $398,469

Building cost: $218,344 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 3,807

Structure type: Leasehold conversion

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Goodwin Animal Hospital & Pet Resort, Pike Road, Ala.

Owner:Dr. Donald Goodwin

Associates: 1 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 5

Cost/sq. ft.: $122

Total cost: $2,336,766.73

Building cost: $1,246,901 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 11,980

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Lafayette Veterinary Care Center, Lafayette, La.

Owner: Drs. Andy Plauche, Kristin Plauche

Associates: 2

Exam rooms: 6

Cost/sq. ft.: $155.63

Total cost: $2,517,999

Building cost: $1,839,520 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 11,800

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Melrose Animal Clinic, Melrose, Mass.

Owner:Dr. Stewart Silverman

Associates: 3 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $189.24

Total cost: $533,718.69

Building cost: $425,025.97 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 2,540

Structure type: Leasehold alteration

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Midtown Animal Clinic, Davis, Calif.

Owner:Dr. Cliff Gravem

Associates: 1 full-time, 3 part-time

Exam rooms: 5

Cost/sq. ft.: $209.46

Total cost: $1,655,647

Building cost: $1,038,899 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 5,301

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Northern Plains Animal Health, Aberdeen, S.D.

Owners:Drs. Gregory Adolf, Darcee Munsterteiger

Associates: 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 3

Cost/sq. ft.: $179.36

Total cost: $1,919,485

Building cost: $1,368,540 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 7,630

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Palisades Veterinary Clinic, Washington, D.C.

Owners: Drs. Jann Elliott, Bruce Herwald

Associates: 1 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 3

Cost/sq. ft.: $418

Total cost: $2,377,500

Building cost: $1,200,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 2,870

Structure type: Freestanding alteration/conversion

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Palm City Animal Medical Center, Palm City, Fla.

Owner:Dr. Rex Sentell

Associates: 3 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 11

Cost/sq. ft.: $141.44

Total cost: $3,603,212

Building cost: $2,029,292 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 14,347

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Parker Veterinary Hospital, Oxford, Mich.

Owners:Drs. Adrian Holly, John Wilson

Associates: 0

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $152

Total cost: $1,183,500

Building cost: $700,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 4,600

Structure type: Freestanding conversion

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Point Vicente Animal Hospital, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.

Owner:Dr. Cassie Jones

Associates: 1 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $235

Total cost: $3,175,000

Building cost: $1,353,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 5,760

Structure type: New freestanding building

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River Ridge Animal Hospital, Dixon, Ill.

Owners:Drs. Philip Fassler, Nate McClain, Chris Gunnon, Erin Graves

Associates: 1 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 10

Cost/sq. ft.: $128

Total cost: $2,800,000

Building cost: $2,150,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 16,800

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Upstate Veterinary Specialists, Asheville, N.C.

Owner:Drs. Dermot Jevens, Keith Allen

Associates: 11

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $119

Total cost: $754,672

Building cost: $425,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 3,583

Structure type: Leasehold conversion

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Veterinary Medical Center, Easton, Md.

Owners:Drs. Elizabeth Callahan, Dean Tyson

Associates: 3 full-time, 2 part-time

Exam rooms: 8

Cost/sq. ft.: $224.12

Total cost: $2,933,944.35

Building cost: $1,841,631.77 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 8,217

Structure type: New freestanding building

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Veterinary Specialty Hospital of Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Owners:Drs. Maria Vianna, Jorg Bucheler

Associates: 3

Exam rooms: 3

Cost/sq. ft.: $133.73

Total cost: $925,000

Building cost: $385,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 2,879

Structure type: New leasehold

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Yalesville Veterinary Hospital, Yalesville, Conn.

Owner:Dr. Frank Kostolitz

Associates: 3 full-time, 1 part-time

Exam rooms: 7

Cost/sq. ft.: $107

Total cost: $1,525,000

Building cost: $902,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 13,914

Structure type: Freestanding addition/alteration

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