Earth Friendly

Nature and technology collide in one practice's new, green office space

By Erinn Morgan

The dispensing area focuses on high-end product in an environmentally responsible setting

Nature was the inspiration for Spokane, Wash.-based Advanced Eye Care's new 2,700-square-foot eco-friendly practice and dispensary. In fact, owner Todd Wylie, OD, has a penchant for plants and the great outdoors. "My family does a lot of outdoor activities and we have a greenhouse at our home," he says.

When the opportunity to move into a new space came forward, Wylie knew he wanted to make it as earth-friendly as possible and also bring a nature-inspired theme indoors. "I had been thinking about a move for a couple of years because we were kind of cramped for space," he says. "When our landlord told us he was selling the building, I started looking for something else right away." Wylie discovered an old, two-story bank building that was spacious and would serve as an excellent blank slate from which to work.

Although the building featured an elevator, the first design step was to decide which aspects of this practice would go where. "We did a few different studies on how to make the patient flow work best," says Barbara Wright, owner of Barbara Wright Designs, the firm that consulted with Wylie on this project. "We had to think about who is going to be running up and down the stairs all day."

For easy patient access, the dispensary ended up on the ground floor, along with a reception area, the lab, and a designated filing area. All other patient services were housed upstairs, including patient exams and Advanced Eye Care's vision therapy area. Small reception areas for both exams and therapy are housed on the second floor as well.

Fully utilizing a two-story setup, Advanced Eye Care placed a dispensary, reception area, lab, and filing area downstairs and all other patient services—from exams to therapy—upstairs. Dr. Wylie wanted an eco-friendly design that would bring the outdoors indoors and reflect the great Northwest and its forest colors

"We decided to include a reception upstairs that is a secondary counter, so if patients were not escorted up there, they'd see a place to go."

The vision therapy specialty, about 30 percent of the practice, involves working with adults and children with vision-related learning disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. The team includes Wylie and three vision therapists who work with patients on neuro-optometric rehabilitation.

GREEN IDEAS

Once the flow of the new office was determined, the interior work could begin. "Wylie wanted to use as many eco-friendly and green features as possible," says Wright. "So, first off, we decided to recycle some of the things the credit union had left behind, including huge plate glass windows that were recycled into the waiting area upstairs."

The green theme continued with many of the finishes. "The paints we used were low VOC," Wright notes. (Low-VOC paints are less toxic and contain fewer volatile organic compounds than standard paints.)

Recycled carpeting was also put in throughout the practice. Generally, Wright's design firm deals with manufacturers who've adopted green policies, so her ideology was a perfect fit with Wylie's vision.

"The manufacturers of things like finishes and furniture have really come a long way today," says designer Barbara Wright. "Even to the point where people might be buying things that are green without really realizing it."

Wylie also invested in high-quality, hardwood, restaurant-style chairs for his practice's waiting areas because he understood that these would last a long time and eliminate the need for the unsustainable practice of tossing them in a landfill when they had served a shorter life. He also recovered and recycled many of his old office chairs.

The final green investment was also one of the most expensive. "He opted to put in energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the office," says Wright. "He did compare his energy bills and determined that this investment will definitely pay off in the long run. He is happy that he did it."

The design and remodeling process took about six months, but Wright says Wylie's clear ideas for the space made the process run smoothly. "Dr. Wylie really had a solid idea of what he wanted, which was eco-friendly and a design that would bring the outdoors indoors and reflect the great Northwest and its forest colors," says Wright.

TECH VISION

Wylie knew it was necessary to complement Advanced Eye Care's eco-conscious theme with a dash of high-tech appeal. He accomplished this by purchasing new equipment and adding special features to the office.

"My exam rooms are located all along one wall that has windows looking out to a clock tower that's across the street," he says. "We installed special woodgrain panels that cover the windows during the exam and we raise them so patients can use the clock tower as a focal point for trying out a new prescription."

The panels use air hydraulics and an air compressor to raise and lower with the simple flip of a switch. Says Wylie: "Patients just love it. They ooh and ahh." EB