2015 Veterinary Economics Hospital Design People's Choice Award winner: Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Online voters picked Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital in Berlin, Connecticut, as the 2015 Veterinary Economics Hospital Design Competition People's Choice Award winner. And location is the thing for this champion. The 2,048-square-foot conversion project is located in a commercial plaza just off the intersection of two high-traffic throughways for commuters, making it easily accessible for clients to see and find the hospital.

The People's Choice award is chosen by voters on dvm360.com from the entire slate of Hospital Design Competition entrants. Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital owner Christine Puskaric, DVM, wrote in her entry that two major factors drove the design process: People consider their pets members of their family, and most pets are unhappy in the veterinary hospital environment. The philosophy behind the design was to present an environment that conveyed comfort and compassion. This was accomplished with:

> Warm and relaxing hues in the paint scheme and countertop colors

> Separate exam rooms for cats, small dogs and large dogs or multi-pet appointments. The hospital's largest exam table folds into the wall to allow enough space for family members to gather for end-of-life procedures without being crowded.

> A 10-gallon fish tank to entertain feline patients in the cat-only exam room.

> A treatment area with easy access to isolation, surgery, radiology, the dog ward, the staff break room and the doctor's office for monitoring and treatment of patients.   

Compassionate Care was built on a strict budget, but with careful planning there was room to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic and monitoring devices, something that Dr. Puskaric felt was essential to providing outstanding care. Dr. Puskaric also focused on design choices that support workflow. These features include:

> Grommets built into cabinet doors and countertops to allow for wires to be hidden and easy disposal of garbage and sharps

> Exhaust fans for odor control in every exam room.

> Full-panel glass on the isolation ward to monitor patients without entering the room. A separate drain-and-hose system in isolation keeps contamination contained.

> A surgery prep area and cage banks with ceiling-mounted curtain tracks and pendant IV poles as well as ceiling-mounted drop-down oxygen lines.

Here's what voters had to say about Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital:

“Dr. Puskaric's hospital is new, clean and efficient. I've followed her practice for years. This is a top-notch use of space, and she's a fantastic doctor.”

“Very pet friendly-great look.”

“I like the colors this hospital used. They are warm and welcoming. Not sterile.”

“Has a welcoming, calming atmosphere.”

“Truly lives up to its name!”

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital, Berlin, Connecticut

Owner: Dr. Christine Puskaric

Doctors: 1

Exam rooms: 3

Cost/sq. ft.: $113.17

Total cost: $436,000

Building cost: $231,774 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 2,048

Structure type: Leasehold conversion building

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Click here for a full photo tour of Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital.

Click through the pages below to see the rest of this year's entries.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists, West Palm Beach, Florida

Owner: Dr. Robert G. Roy

Doctors: 19

Exam rooms: 11

Cost/sq. ft.: $171

Total cost: $11,150,000

Building cost: $6,000,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 35,000

Structure type: New freestanding building

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center, Chicago, Illinois

Owners: Drs. Jack Mackenzie, DACVIM; Michale Podell, DACVIM; Seth Ghantous DACVIM

Doctors: 6

Exam rooms: 5

Cost/sq. ft.: $325.82

Total cost: $4,634,734.82

Building cost: $2,633,246 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 3,125

Structure type: New freestanding building

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Is this your favorite? Click here to vote.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital, Thousand Oaks, California

Owner: Dr. Todd Hughes

Doctors: 15

Exam rooms: 12

Cost/sq. ft.: $184

Total cost: $4,595,662

Building cost: $3,130,669 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 17,000

Structure type: Freestanding conversion building

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Country Club Veterinary Clinic, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Owners: Drs. Christine M. Mocklin; Martha P. Briley

Doctors: 2

Exam rooms: 5

Cost/sq. ft.: $120.55

Total cost: $1,239,200

Building cost: $607,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 5,035

Structure type: New freestanding building

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center, Dunwoody, Georgia

Owner: Dr. CL Johnson III

Doctors: 2

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $135

Total cost: $938,000

Building cost: $488,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 1,704

Structure type: Leasehold conversion

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Long Animal Hospital, Charlotte, North Carolina

Owners: Drs. Richard E. Killough; Richard B. Killough

Doctors: 12

Exam rooms: 10

Cost/sq. ft.: $155.07

Total cost: $8,107,051.07

Building cost: $4,838,798 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 31,203

Structure type: New freestanding

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Animal Emergency Center, Orlando, Florida

Owner: Dr. Holly G. Brown-Tabbenor

Doctors: 3

Exam rooms: 5

Cost/sq. ft.: $123.06

Total cost: $1,046,640

Building cost: $786,640 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 16,877

Structure type: Freestanding addition/alteration

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Town Center Animal Clinic, Suwanee, Georgia

Owner: Dr. Alida Baroco

Doctors: 1

Exam rooms: 2

Cost/sq. ft.: $129

Total cost: $393,000

Building cost: $0 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 1,704

Structure type: Leasehold conversion

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Atwater Veterinary Center, Atwater, California

Owners: Drs. Charles M. Copeland; Carolyn L. Chiffelle; Paul Elliott Cook; Nicole Maria Ekblom

Doctors: 7

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $308

Total cost: $2,438,853

Building cost: $1,436,300 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 5,496

Structure type: Freestanding new building

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort, Frederick, Maryland

Owner: Dr. William Amoroso

Doctors: 4

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $176

Total cost: $7,440,000

Building cost: $5,300,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 30,000

Structure type: Freestanding new building

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey

Owner: Dr. Charles Westfield

Doctors: 3

Exam rooms: 6

Cost/sq. ft.: $230.42

Total cost: $4,320,473

Building cost: $2,009,294 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 9,523

Structure type: New freestanding building

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'n Biscuit, Huntsville, Alabama

Owner: Dr. Kevin M. Lowe

Doctors: 3

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $211.49

Total cost: $4,256,782

Building cost: $2,358,067 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 11,150

Structure type: New freestanding building

Click floor plan to enlarge.

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

East Lake Veterinary Center, Killeen, Texas

Owner: Dr. Michael J. Joyner

Doctors: 3

Exam rooms: 5

Cost/sq. ft.: $116.33

Total cost: $1,101,143

Building cost: $698,000 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 6,000

Structure type: New freestanding building

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center, Denver, Colorado

Owner: Dr. Carola Stevenson

Doctors: 2

Exam rooms: 4

Cost/sq. ft.: $54.55

Total cost: $1,575,219

Building cost: $458,223 (building only; excludes land purchase, landscaping, parking lot, etc.)

Square footage: 8,400

Structure type: Freestanding conversion building

Full list of entrants:

Palm Beach Veterinary Specialists

Chicago Veterinary Cancer and Rehabilitation Center

Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital

Compassionate Care Veterinary Hospital

Country Club Veterinary Clinic

Dunwoody Animal Medical Center

Long Animal Hospital and Emergency Center

Animal Emergency Center

Town Center Animal Clinic

Atwater Veterinary Clinic

Greenbriar Veterinary Hospital and Luxury Pet Resort

Hunterdon Hills Animal Hospital

Flint River Animal Hospital and Bed 'N Biscuit

East Lake Veterinary Center

Bear Valley Veterinary Care Center