The building’s organization wraps the diverse medical components (diagnostics, surgery, emergency) around a central treatment area while reacting to the unique geometry and assets of the site. The veterinary hospital contains two parallel programs: an overnight/weekend emergency care veterinary facility and a specialist practice that accepts referrals from conventional veterinary practices in the surrounding region. 24/7 treatment and care for animal patients were very similar to that of a human hospital within a smaller footprint, including: treatment, surgery, specialty procedure rooms, recovery, and intensive care areas.

During the architectural interview process, MVS provided plans and exterior renderings of the building, drawn by their lead surgeon. These drawings were used as evaluation criteria for the architect’s schematic design work. This dynamic provided the basis for the collaborative dialogue surrounding the building’s design. MVS’s main goal was to provide an efficient workspace for the staff that maximized their ability to care for their animal patients.

The building’s shape was created by reconciling the constraints of the site with the program. Interior spaces for surgery, specialty procedure, and support were wrapped around the main treatment area at the core of the building. The landscape of the creek that borders the southwest portion of the site became a counterpoint to the building’s mass. Attention was given to how interior spaces viewed the creek and how a space could be made between the tree line of the creek and the building. The cantilevered entry, carved out of the building’s volume, link interior and exterior spaces and addresses the access road several hundred feet to the north.