Office Space: Stringham Dentistry

by Darcie Galbraith, BA, Interior Design Coach; Peter Barry, C.M.C. Practice Success Coach

THE WHY: The Owner’s Story

Stringham Dentistry is a well-established dental practice that has been serving Edmonton, AB residents and its surrounding communities for over 40 years. This second-generation practice was originally opened by Dr. Stringham Senior who was also involved in the construction of the original building. He subsequently transitioned ownership of the practice and care of the patients into the trusted hands of his son who graduated from dental school in 2014. Dr. Cameron Stringham and his wife, Deana, are now the proud partners that own and operate the practice today. During their undergraduate studies, Cameron was originally enrolled in business. The direction of their studies dramatically shifted after Cameron returned from a lifechanging dental mission where he was deeply touched by the tremendous impact dental healthcare can have on people’s lives.

THE HOW: Planning & Preparation

The office is in a 2-story commercial building located in the south-central part of Edmonton, which is a thriving family-oriented community. After 40 years in one location, the office was beginning to look tired and feel tight for space. It was also becoming difficult to keep up with the needs of a rapidly growing patient base. They decided it was time to modernize and expand by moving into a brand-new state-of-the-art facility that is over double the size. Moving from a 4-operatory, 1300 sq/ft facility into a high-tech, 7-operatory, 3000 sq/ft space was an exciting adventure that took some strategic planning and coordination between different parties. Negotiating the lease took approximately 9 months because they were exchanging places with another tenant within the building while concurrently expanding into that tenant’s adjacent unit. The construction itself began in July, 2021, and was fully completed in May of 2022. With some crafty project planning, the construction was done after many hours and in two phases. This minimized disturbance to tenants and allowed them to remain open and fully operational during construction.

THE RESULTS: Technical Design Features

Modernizing the practice required ergonomic attention to the overall configuration and flow of the space. The final circular design subtly separates the public and clinical areas. They also created a separate entry exclusively for the team. The office was designed with people in mind. Many of the long-standing elderly, non-ambulatory patients can now enjoy more convenient wheelchair accessibility throughout the office. Including a special lift technology designed to hoist patients comfortably and effortlessly into the chair while minimizing physical exertion or risk of injury to the team. Warm neutral colors mixed tastefully with industrial elements pay tribute to the existing buildings heritage while also pleasing an evolving, modern and contemporary patient base. The rich white brick textures, light wood “casing trims and flooring,” as well as matte black lighting fixtures, make the stunning space feel serene and appealing for all generations to enjoy.

THE IMPACT: Empowered Practice Outcomes

The new space is not just a place to practice dentistry. It is a space where team members and patients alike can enjoy delivering and receiving dental health care in a beautifully laid out and visually appealing environment that touches the senses. As an established practice, it was important to preserve the core office culture and vibe while integrating their passion for new technologies into a modern practice setting that feels warm and comfortable to everyone.

Equipment Supplier: Sinclair Dental
Interior Design: Jennifer Buchanan
Construction: GH Construction
Dental Equipment: A-dec Dental

About the Authors

Darcie is co-founder of Bella Vita Designs Inc; an interior design company specializing in creating beautiful functional spaces for start-ups, remodeling, expanding, or relocating your dream practice. To have your proud story and unique office design featured she can be reached at darcie@bellavitadesigns.ca / IG @bellavitadesignsinc / 905-716-8528.

Peter Barry is Founder of Practice Mastery Inc, a Team Development Coaching company that serves the growth & development needs of your practice. He provides customized group and one on-one “Success Training” to dental professionals & industry companies across N. America. FMI IG @peterbarrycoach, peter@practicemastery.com, www.practicemastery.com, 416.568.5456.

RESOURCES