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I needed to bring WHAT?
Before you show up to talk to your accountant, your architect, your builder or your engineer at the Hospital Design Conference or your own town, you need these. Nothings worse than an, oh, thats at home! conversation to start off your big hospital build.
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Prepping for a consultation with a veterinary architect, engineer or financial planner? Feeling overwhelmed by all the planning that goes into one of these projects and wish you had some guidance? These meetings are a valuable source of information-but they're best if you prepare a little.
Everything you need to know-all in one place
The HospitalDesign360 conference at Fetch dvm360 conference in Kansas City is a fantastic resource for planning, building and decorating your new veterinary hospital or remodel project. Plus included in your registration is a free one-on-one consultation with one of our architectural or engineering experts. See dvm360.com/hdconf for more.)
We asked our design experts-architects Heather Lewis, Dan Chapel and Wayne Usiak, engineer Scott Learned, and certified financial planner Gary Glassman-to explain what veterinary practice owners should think about before coming to these consultations. No. 1 item? A to-scale drawing of the site plan (and pre-existing building, if there is one). Here's what else to bring. Click here for a printable version of this list.
Meeting with an architect?
New construction projects
> Site survey with photos from different angles
> Site plan (if you have it)
> “Wish list” of desired hospital spaces
> Floor plan (if you have it), with rooms or functional areas drawn in
> Sketches of what the hospital will look like or photos of existing hospitals you plan to emulate
> Building cost estimate
> Bonus questions for start-ups: Is this first practice a stepping stone to a bigger dream, or is this a building you'll enjoy for a long time to come? What would make this veterinary hospital building successful?
Additions, renovations and leasehold projects
> Floor plan of existing building
> Interior and exterior photos from different angles
> Site plan (if you have it)
> “Wish list” of desired hospital spaces to be added to existing building
> Floor plan (if you have it), with rooms or additions drawn in
> Sketches of what the hospital will look like from the exterior after renovation or addition
> Building cost estimate
Meeting with an architectural engineer?
Answer these questions and bring this information to make the most of your valuable time together:
Details on:
> Conceptual drawings or schematics (if you have them)
> Timeline: What are your dates to begin design/renovation, construction and moving in?
> Desired building size (square foot)
> Land size and type: sloped/flat/mountainous terrain, open/wooded vegetation, etc.
> Road access
> Utilities: municipal water vs. private well; municipal sewer vs. private septic
> Permits: Are you cleared to build, renovate or add? Have you met with a planning officer or real estate attorney? Are there any objections (typically noise or odor)? Have you been heard at a city planning and zoning meeting yet?
> Ancillary services planned: daycare, grooming, physical therapy, fitness, dry treadmills, hydrotherapy, whirlpools, retail, etc.?
> Practice size: No. of veterinarians, exam rooms, surgical suites and animal housing units
> Competition: What other veterinary hospitals are in the area?
> Construction: Are you planning to bid the project competitively? Have you selected an architect, and what are your criteria? Have you selected a contractor, and what are your criteria?
> Business plan: Do you have financing in place? Do you have business partners?
> Equipment for reception, retail, exam rooms, pharmacy, treatment area, dental suite, surgical prep, ICU, diagnostic lab, radiography, surgery, grooming, special procedures and other (dishwasher, washer/dryer, pressure wash system, refrigerator)
Meeting with a CPA?
> Explanation of the project, including size and estimated cost for land and building, if known
> Tax return for previous year and financial statement
> The current building's fair market value and amount of existing debt on that building
