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, achieving LEED Silver status. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the national standard for environmentally responsible (Green) projects. To earn certification, the design team must include accredited design professionals and undergo third-party verification, as demonstrated by Upland Architects.
Special LEED features.
Obviously, the building is designed with energy efficiency and water conservation in mind, but there are many other ways to reduce the environmental impact of a well-designed structure. Starting with the site: rain ponds are integrated into the landscape to capture and filter all water runoff. The exam rooms feature a wall of glass facing north, offering a view of a natural garden filled with indigenous plants and wildlife, created specifically for this purpose. Throughout construction, waste management practices, non-VOC materials, recycled materials, and locally sourced products were carefully selected and closely monitored.
Many people do not realize that a key aspect of environmentally friendly design is the comfort and functionality of the building for its users. Particular care was given to creating the proper lighting for different needs: soft, comfortable lighting for patients and staff in relaxation and work areas, and technically specialized lighting for doctors treating patients. The heating and cooling systems are designed to provide maximum individual control for occupants. Even the textures and colors of the finishes and furniture were chosen with special attention to enhance both the environment and experience.
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 tailored to your needs and to have them certified. Our style is your style—we design what you want, not what we want, and we know exactly how to make it happen.
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