Aronson Family Dental

When patients enter Aronson Family Dental, the space they encounter feels more like a modern, warm living room than a cold, clinical, medical office. That experience is enhanced by the abundance of daylight brought in by over-sized windows in the exam rooms. The building’s exterior had to comply with the guidelines set by the city and the HOA. Like the existing buildings, it displays a mix of brick, stucco and asphalt shingles. Yet the design also allows the 3,300-square-foot building to showcase some distinctive features. Developed on a trapezoidal section of property, the building parallels the curving street to the north – allowing all the exam rooms to take full advantage of the north light.

The female dentist of Aronson Family Dental wanted to squash the stigma of a sterile, intimidating, dental office by creating an inviting, home-like waiting room. A centralized island, fireplace, coffee bar enclose the sitting area and makes it feel like you’re in your living room. Soothing paint colors act as a backdrop for calming artwork. A dramatic skylight well lights the hallway between the waiting area and the clinical portion of the building. The color palette stretches into the clinical areas to create a cohesive design. The dentist was initially inspired by a picture of window seat that she envisioned to be at the end of the exam room. The window seat became the jumping off point to create a cozy, home-like dental office. Working with her husband, the architect of the project, they wanted to de-clutter the exam rooms to reduce patient stress and elevate the client’s positive experience. To do this, they used wall mounted up/down lights and placed all computer monitors on the casework, and linear duct work diffusers were installed at the foot of the chair to eliminate blowing air being pushed onto the patients. Additionally, the ceiling were set at over 9’ tall and the oversized window at the foot of each exam room floods the room with natural light. Patients have been said to say, “This office is more inviting and comfortable than my house, when can I move in?”