CORNERSTONE DENTAL ASSOCIATES
LEADER IN ENVIRONMENTALLY STABLE DESIGN IN THE REGION
Cornerstone Dental Associates is the culmination of a decades long historic dental practice. Dr. Kendalyn Lutz-Craver’s priorities were a state-of-the-art dental practice for her patients and to lead the region in environmentally sustainable growth. We designed for her practice the first LEED Certified building in that region of North Carolina. It was certified LEED Silver. LEED Certification is the national standard for environmentally responsible (Green) projects. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, requires the design team to have accredited design professionals and third-party certification like Upland Architects does.
SPECIAL LEED FEATURES
Obviously, the building is designed for energy efficiency and water conservation, but there are so many other things that can be done to improve the environmental impact of a well-designed building. Beginning with site. Using rain ponds the site is designed to retain and clean all water runoff. The exam rooms are all glass on one wall which face north and look out onto a natural garden of indigenous plants and wildlife created just for this purpose. During construction waste management, non-VOC materials, recycled materials, local materials and more were all used and closely monitored.
Many people do not realize that a large part of environmentally friendly design is the comfort and functional use for the people who interact with the building. Particular care was taken to provide proper lighting. Comfortable lighting for the patients and staff when relaxing and working. Technically specialized lighting for the doctors as they examine the patients. The heating and cooling systems are designed to provide maximum, individual control for the occupants. Special attention is given even to the textures and colors of the finishes and furniture.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
The client also wanted a modern contemporary looking building. The building was designed with large expanses of glass, curving exterior walls and in some areas, exposed structural elements for effect. Interior design, including furniture, artwork and lighting were part of the design services. On a more practical side, all exterior elements are essentially maintenance free. The exterior cladding material is porcelain tile, which is durable, maintenance free and contributes to the modern design.
The original design planned for future expansion. After only seven years of a thriving practice, six more exam rooms were easily added, increasing the number of exam rooms by sixty percent.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
Upland Architects has the expertise to design environmentally sustainable projects for you and to have them certified. Our style is your style. We design what you want, not what we want, and we know how to do it.