SPECIAL PROGRAMS: DESIGN CONFERENCE

Founding Sponsor Tristar Metals, Inc.
Co-Sponsor IDEXX Laboratories

Chair, SWVS Design Conference, Ronald O. Stried, DVM

Thursday, August 23

12:00 Noon – 1:00 pm REGISTRATION – Renaissance Worthington Hotel

Moderator: Ronald O. Stried, DVM

1:00 – 1:10 pm Conference Opening/Overview
Ronald O. Stried, DVM, Chair, SWVS Design Conference

1:10 – 2:10 pm Building an Animal Hospital – Who Do I Hire, How Much will it Cost, and How Long Will It Take?
Wayne Usiak, AIA, NCARB
In this presentation, participants will gain a clear understanding of the process to follow for a predictable outcome, and the tools to proceed and succeed. The historical cost trends of Veterinary construction, illustrations of the major roadblocks to overcome, and strategies and guidelines to apply to your project will be presented. We will define your role and responsibilities in the project and demonstrate how your practice can pay for your building.

2:10 – 3:10 pm What Does It Take to Get My Loan Approved? Financing Hospital Purchases
Gary I. Glassman, CPA
When you are financing the purchase of real estate, a piece of equipment, or needing a line of credit, determine the ins and out’s of dealing with bankers and leasing companies. Learn what types of financing are available and how to making a winning presentation that will assure you financing.

3:10 – 3:30 pm Refreshment Break

3:30 – 4:30 pm Is My Site Right? A Checklist for Success
Daniel D. Chapel, AIA
It’s hard to overemphasize the importance of selecting the best location for the construction of a new animal hospital. The most accomplished veterinarian practicing in a new state-of-the-art facility will risk insecure times or even professional and financial failure in the wrong location. While important, site selection and design isn’t a mysterious science. Common sense decisions combined with pertinent information will lead to the selection of the correct building site. 

After careful site selection and purchase, the site must be designed for utilization. The exterior design of your building, sign, drives, parking lot and landscaped areas must not be left to chance. The careful design of these features results in the all-important image projected by your hospital or boarding facility. Using slides of completed projects, this presentation will discuss the dos and don’ts of site and landscape design.

4:30 – 5:30 pm Innovative Trends in Facilities
Daniel D. Chapel, AIA
This slide presentation of newly constructed animal facilities will highlight current trends and design features that have resulted in successful building projects. This presentation will enable practitioners contemplating a building project to establish goals and quality standards for their projects.

5:30 pm Dinner

Friday, August 24

7:45 am REGISTRATION and Coffee – Renaissance Worthington Hotel

Moderator: C. Wayne Roberson, DVM

8:00 – 9:00 am Organization, Traffic Flow and Facility Layout
Sal Longo, Jr., Associate AIA
Proper traffic flow in your hospital is one of the most important concerns you will address in designing your facility. An inefficient plan will lead to wasted time and loss of money. Organize your hospital into the appropriate zones to make the most of your space and give you the most efficient floor plan. Participants will learn the important keys to flow patterns and how it can apply to their facility.

9:00 – 10:00 am Your Public Areas and Client Perception
Wayne Usiak, AIA, NCARB
The Waiting, Reception and Exam Rooms may be the only areas of your hospital 90% of your clients will ever experience, and this will form their perception of your Practice. This session will identify key design issues to address and will provide numerous examples of successful practices and ideas you may choose to incorporate into your facility. It will also demonstrate examples of exterior features and their role in attracting clients and reinforcing positive practice perception.

10:00 – 10:15 am Break

10:15 – 11:15 am Hospital Work Zone: Procedure, Service and Animal Holding Areas
Sal Longo, Jr., Associate AIA
The “Private” side of the hospital addresses different concerns in comparison to the public areas. Whether dealing with issues of moisture, clinical procedures or animal housing, special design considerations need to be addressed to ensure the efficiency of your practice and longevity of your building.  Participants will learn what is unique to designing the work zone areas of the hospital.

11:15 am – 12:15 pm Creating a Pleasant Interior Environment
Wayne Usiak, AIA, NCARB
Attracting and retaining both clients and staff is key to the success of every practice. Features that provide comfort, convenience, security, ergonomics, image reinforcement, and efficiency enhance their daily experience. Color, lighting, ventilation, traffic layout, views, seating, workspace layout, materials, and natural light are all tools your designer can manipulate for your success. This presentation will demonstrate key principles to successfully address these issues in your facility. General and specific solutions will be presented for you to incorporate in your design.

12:15 – 1:45 pm Lunch Break
(SWVS Express Shuttle to Convention Center is available)

Moderator: Ronald O. Stried, DVM

1:45 – 2:45 pm Surviving Renovations and Additions
Sal Longo, Jr., Associate AIA
Not all veterinarians have the need or ability to build a brand new animal facility. Renovating or adding on to your existing building can be a viable option if careful thought is given to the overall floor plan of the hospital. While new construction does not typically interrupt your practice, careful consideration must be given to renovations and additions to keep your doors open during construction. Participants will learn the keys to a successful renovation/addition and the options to stay in business during construction.

2:45 – 3:00 pm Break

3:00 – 4:00 pm Materials in the Veterinary Facility
Daniel D. Chapel, AIA
The selection of materials and finishes is one of the most important aspects of the design of animal medical facilities. Selecting materials and finishes for your veterinary hospital is a balancing act. You are balancing a material’s color and appearance against installed cost, life-cycle cost and durability.

During this presentation the dos, don’ts and pitfalls of finish material and color selection for animal care facilities will be discussed.

4:00 – 5:30 pm Panel Discussion: Putting It All Together
Daniel D. Chapel, AIA, Sal Longo, Jr., Associate AIA, and Wayne Usiak, AIA, NCARB

5:30 pm Adjourn

DESIGN CONFERENCE PRESENTERS

Daniel D. Chapel, AIA is president of Chapel Associates Architects in Little Rock, Arkansas. Chapel Associates is a nationally recognized firm specializing in animal facility design. Practical, award-winning designs are the hallmark of this 30 year-old firm. Chapel Associates has participated in the design of more than 500 veterinary hospitals, boarding kennels and animal shelters. Projects include two Veterinary Economics magazine Hospitals of the Year and several “Designs of Merit” winners. Dan Chapel is a nationally recognized expert in the field of veterinary architecture. Mr. Chapel has served on the Editorial Board of Veterinary Economics magazine since 1985.

Sal Longo Jr., Associate AIA is co-founder and partner of Crosby Longo Architecture Studio, LLC, an architectural firm specializing exclusively in the design of animal care facilities for the past 10 years. He served as an adjunct instructor for six years at Tulane University School of Architecture, where he also received both his Bachelor of Architecture and Masters of Architecture. Crosby Longo Architecture Studio received Veterinary Economics’ Hospital of the Year Award in 2000.

Gary I. Glassman, CPA is a partner with Burzenski & Company, P.C. an accounting and financial management consulting firm in East Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Glassman focuses on the field of veterinary practice management, and specializes in financial management and tax planning for veterinary practices and their owners. In addition, he has extensive experience in practice valuation, related practice sale, merger and acquisition activity, structuring buy/sell agreements, as well as hospital expansion and financing. He is a member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the Institute of Business Appraisers (IBA), and a charter member of the Association of Veterinary Practice Management Consultants and Advisors (AVPMCA). Gary is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Connecticut Society of CPAs. Mr. Glassman serves on the editorial board and is a regular contributor for the Veterinary Economics magazine.

Wayne Usiak, AIA, NCARB, BDA Architecture, P.C.
Wayne designed his first animal hospital in 1977, and in 1981 won his first Veterinary Economics Hospital Design Award. In 1986, he founded BDA Architecture, P.C. to specialize in the design of animal care facilities. Since that time, over 500 successful designs have been completed in 42 states and 5 countries. The firm has been awarded 24 Veterinary Economic Design Awards, including Hospital of the Year in 1998, 2001 and 2007. In 1998, BDA founded CMP Inc, their in-house construction division. Since 1998 CMP has completed construction on over 40 veterinary facilities.

Wayne received both his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Architecture from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB). This certification pre-qualifies him for licensing reciprocity both nationally and internationally. Wayne is also a member of the Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board. Presently, Wayne holds licenses in 37 states.

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