Hicks Orthodontics by BarberMcMurry Architects
Posted by Erin on November 14th, 2014
BarberMcMurry Architects have designed a new location for Hicks Orthodontics in Lenoir City, Tennessee. The clear sealed cypress wood ceilings within Waiting continue down the corridor and throughout the Operatory. The Waiting Area provides a high volume glass “front door” as well as capturing ample natural light. This bar is placed along the west side of the building to shield views of the gas station. In late 2012, BarberMcMurry architects was approached by the practice to help design a modern facility to house an expansion into an underserved rural location approximately 5 miles northwest of Lenoir City in East Tennessee. A gas station convenience store is located on the parcel immediately to the west. Located off of U.S. A single eight foot wide patient corridor tethers the Waiting Area and Operatory at each end with support functions plugging in along its length. The design utilizes a limited palette of glass, metal, cypress wood, brick, and concrete. We positioned the building away from the gas station and carefully placed programmatic elements within the building to leverage and focus views toward the natural landscape. The solar orientation of the building informs the metal window surrounds and roof overhangs to help shade the glass while still allowing ample views and interior daylight. The client asked that the new building respect the warmth of the rural context while also providing a progressive image which aligned with their vision. BMa worked closely with the staff at Hicks Orthodontics to first understand how their practice functioned day to day. Adjacent parcels to the southeast remain undeveloped and densely vegetated. This arrangement allows for the organization of sequential functions placed along the spine for optimized efficiency. At the other end of the spine, the Operatory accommodates eight orthodontic stations and takes advantage of vegetated views giving the space a feeling of floating within the trees. After this initial information gathering was complete, BMa proposed a simplified patient flow parti which drove the remainder of the design. Consultation areas are treated as a low brick clad “bar” element which plugs in along the spine.
