As a practicing Dentist for some 35 years, Dr Michael Sturgeon knows well the amount of effort, time and personal sacrifice that goes into the establishment of a new dental practice. In 2007, he established All Saints Dentistry (formerly Abbey Dental) in Rockingham, one of Perth's southern suburbs and grew the practice into one of the regions success stories.
After a number of years at All Saints, Michael sold the practice to Dental Corporation. The opportunity then arose to establish a new Dental Corporation practice in nearby Baldivis with Michael at the helm.
Located about 35 minutes south of Perth, Baldivis is an area that is experiencing strong population growth. The recent completion of the Forrest highway linking Perth to Bunbury has significantly reduced travel times, making the area attractive for young families seeking the benefits of metropolitan facilities with a more regional lifestyle. Whilst growing strongly, the area was identified as having only limited family dental services available, requiring patients to travel to and from Perth and Rockingham to obtain adequate dental care.
At All Saints Dental, Michael had contracted Medifit to undertake the restoration of the reception, waiting rooms and administration offices. The success of that project and the ease with which it was completed meant that Michael had no hesitation in appointing Medifit to tender for the design and fitout of Baldivis Family Dental Care.
The new practice was designed from the outset to be accommodating and family-friendly to cater for the mainly first and second home buyers with young families in the area. From the moment patients and their families enter the building, the environment has been designed to provide a relaxing, professional atmosphere to put patients at ease.
With design concepts already underway when Michael came on board, the schematics presented early in the process by another design company comprised a 4 chair layout which Dr Sturgeon felt didn't maximise the space adequately and the project was taken over by Medifit. Drawing on their knowledge and experience gained through ten years of dental design and construction, Medifit were able to effectively optimise the available space to secure a 5th surgery in the existing floorplan while improving patient and staff flows throughout.
The layout itself was designed around the clients’ preference for all surgeries to be positioned to take advantage of the large windows and light-filled areas of the tenancy. The tenancy had 2 entries from the carpark and the reception area therefore became the central focal point of the floorplan to provide visual access to both entries and waiting rooms.
The general design philosophy was to create a warm yet modern family oriented practice and to maximise the use of natural light, with all surgeries to benefit from the large windows.
The overall finishes and colour palette have been designed to work in harmony with the vibrant Dental Corporation logo and corporate colours. There is a balance of warm earthy tones with occasional hints of colour to create a stylish contemporary aesthetic.
The Reception area is simple yet sleek with an approachable curved counter design punctuated with a contrasting negative detail and juxtaposed timber and gloss finishes to the front. Two feature pendants have been incorporated into the overall reception design and act as a screen to keep patients clear of the passage doorway to the surgeries. Storage was also a major consideration in the reception area and this was maximised with the inclusion of a tall cupboard and feature overhead cabinets.
The surgeries are finished in a contrast of light stone effect laminate warm neutral laminate cupboards with light neutral gloss laminate drawers. The walls are also neutral with one deeper toned wall to create a warm relaxed atmosphere. This general theme is also repeated in the steri. The dental chairs are angled towards the windows so both client and staff can enjoy the natural light.
The staff area is located off the passage and includes a kitchenette, staff lockers and lunch table to seat 5.
With the new design concepts finalised and approved, Medifit liaised with the local council and helped obtain the necessary approvals before commencing work on site. A schedule was provided and all project milestones were all met on time and on budget, with the experience of Medifit's personnel and the efficiency of their systems and processes again proving their value.
"Baldivis Family Dental Care was the second greenfield site project for Dental Corporation. By building from the ground up, the new practice takes full advantage of the site and makes it easier to provide quality care for our patients. Medifit were very helpful in providing 3D drawings of our new practice to assist us in visualising the patient experience. The finished practice looks great!"
Dayna Papalia, Marketing Communications Manager, Dental Corporation
In Michael's words, “Medifit deliver excellent value for money. The experience they bring to the project meant there was nothing left out and we had no issues whatsoever on the final inspection. Sam, Mark and Francis from Medifit were available throughout the project and I knew it was in good hands. The practice was completed on time and on budget and I'm very happy with the result.”
After 35 years in dentistry, Michael still enjoys interacting with patients and educating them about their mouth care. As testament to the friendly, personal service he provides, he has been the family dentist for three generations of some local families. With a daughter graduating as a dentist this year, the Sturgeons will continue to provide quality dental care to the area for years to come.
