• Hero Banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Buying or Selling a Practice
Hospital Design
Leadership & Personal Growth
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Technology
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Live Conferences
Conference News
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Moving on the landlord's dime

June 1, 2014

A property owner's desire to tear down a building turned out to be a blessing for this California veterinary practice.

Next >

This leasehold conversion project landed Terra Vista Animal Hospital in an established shopping center with shared parking and entry concourses. The signage and interior design scheme complements the existing shopping center’s Spanish Mediterranean theme.

After 18 years in practice, Dr. Michael Weigand got a chance at a fresh start—luckily, with an established client base. When his landlord approached him about moving to make room for a new, freestanding bank where his leased practice stood, he was offered an all-new facility nearby. And who wouldn’t jump at the chance?

The situation was unique. The landlord offered to cover all costs if Dr. Weigand moved his hospital, Terra Vista Animal Hospital in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., to another property owned by the same company. Or he could build wherever he wanted, with the company footing any reasonable expenses.

“I knew it was important for me to remain in the area I’d served for 18 years,” he says. “Fortunately, there was a vacancy in a neighboring shopping center my landlord owned, just one mile east of our current location.”

Site selection, zoning and financing were non-issues, which left Dr. Weigand free to dream about interior design instead.

“Due to the fact that our patients have little concern for what a place looks like, we must focus on our clients’ perceptions,” he says. Dr. Weigand’s goal was to design a comfortable space with a clear and easy floor plan. He worked to avoid bottlenecks at the reception desk and create an open work area in the treatment room. With a very linear plan, traffic flows easily from one area to the next, including a separate checkout area that features a pharmacy pass-through window for dispensing medications. Every zone is just steps from the next, and many employees are in direct visual contact so they can maintain efficient lines of communication.

“Effective communication among staff members is as important to the overall client experience as is communication directly with the client,” says Dr. Weigand. “My philosophy from the beginning, when I opened in 1994, remains the same: to be people-oriented while caring for pets. Our design centers around that concept.”

Takeaway tip:

Remember, almost anything—especially big purchases and leases—is negotiable. Never hesitate to ask for a better deal from your current or future landlord.

Photography credit: Larry Falke, Larry Falke Photography

< Back  |  Next >

Reception

The reception area separates check-in and discharge functions for better efficiency. From the waiting area, staff members can see the entire entryway, the waiting area and the exam room pod vestibule. A pass-through pharmacy counter near the discharge counter speeds up service while minimizing steps. The reception area was designed to take advantage of existing storefront windows. Paw print designs add a touch of whimsy to the ceiling tiles. Park benches offer a variety of seating options.

< Back  |  Next >

Exam room

Four exam rooms make up a clustered pod that maximizes space and controls traffic flow. This configuration also allows for single exam room door access, providing more wall area for technology without compromising comfort, functionality or accessibility.

< Back  |  Next >

Advertisement

Pharmacy

The pharmacy is adjacent to both the outpatient and inpatient areas, with a pass-through opposite the reception counter. The lab is nestled between the pharmacy and treatment area and features a linear counter design for effective visual screening and sound attenuation from the treatment area.

< Back  |  Next >

Treatment

The treatment area serves as the central hub of the hospital, with two built-in wet tables and a built-in cubby to facilitate a height-adjustable wet table. ICU cages, surgery and isolation are easily visible and can be monitored from the treatment area. The streamlined floor plan eases traffic congestion in the area.

< Back  |  Next >

Doctors' office

A shared doctors’ office near the treatment hub offers a place to make calls and write up charts away from the hustle and bustle of the hospital. These stations are also provided at the semi-circular countertop ends of the treatment and lab areas.

< Back  |  Next >

Break room

An employee break room sits next door, making it easy to find employees when they’re needed in the treatment hub.

< Back  |  Next >

Terra Vista Animal Hospital

7385 Milliken, Suite 140

Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

(909) 989-3999

Fax (909) 989-7939

[email protected]

terravistavets.com

Owner: Michael C. Weigand Jr., DVM

Associates: 2 full-time, 1 part-time

Hospital team: 15 full-time, 2 part-time

Practice style: 100 percent small animal

Building size: 3,570 square feet

Parking spaces: 26 client, 21 staff

Construction: N/A

Site improvement: N/A

Professional fees: $50,000, paid by developer

Equipment: $19,977

Furnishings: $4,107

Computers: $14,070

Year built: 2012

Primary architect:

Richard Rauh, AIA, NCARB

Rauhaus Freedenfeld & Associates

23101 Moulton Parkway, Suite 106

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

(949) 716-8899

Fax (949) 716-9959

[email protected]

rfarchitiects.com

< Back  |  Start >

Click here or on the floor plan to enlarge

Related Content:

Buying or Selling a Practice
3 must-haves for hospital location
3 must-haves for hospital location
GoodVets launches in Tampa with opening of new veterinary hospital
GoodVets launches in Tampa with opening of new veterinary hospital
Terravet and the future of veterinary real estate ownership
Terravet and the future of veterinary real estate ownership

Advertisement

Latest News

Free microchipping event to take place in Chicago

Zoo announces birth of critically endangered red wolf pups

Study reveals most pet parents wouldn't leave home to escape disaster if they couldn't bring pets

New ASAP Vet urgent care opens in Austin, Texas

View More Latest News
Advertisement