transforming into a facility worthy of “flagship” status

Evans Building Main Clinic and Schattner Addition

Philadelphia, PA

Penn Dental Medicine is among the oldest university-affiliated dental schools in the nation. The renovation includes the modernization of a 10,000 SF teaching clinic and associated ancillary spaces. The 3,200 SF, two-story addition is home for a new student lounge and much-needed patient waiting space. PDM looked to transform their facility into one worthy of “flagship” status while improving the overall patient experience, create space for student social interaction, and establish a symbolic and physical connection between clinical and research spaces. The new addition strategically locates a student lounge and patient waiting to improve wayfinding while encouraging the desired interaction between students, faculty, and researchers. Enclosing an exterior arcade highlights connection between the newly created spaces and the existing facility. The clinic design creates an environment for 74 individual operatories optimized for teaching techniques via “4-handed dentistry.” The upper glass panels and custom cabinetry allow open site lines for faculty supervision while maintaining patient privacy and reducing noise levels. As homage to the character of the original building, ceiling shape, and large chandeliers are informed by the legacy of the former space. A high-performance curtainwall with custom profiles is used to recreate a dramatic wall of windows. This profusion of north light is one of many factors that makes this clinic a positive environment for teaching dentistry and excellent patient care.