Leading the World in Animal Care Facility Design

BDA Veterinary Architecture

For over 20 years, BDA Architecture has designed hundreds of animal care facilities around the world. From 600-square-foot storefront renovations to emergency facilities to 35,000-square-foot specialty / referral animal hospitals, our expertise can provide you with the best in veterinary clinic design and architecture . As hospital architects our projects represent over 3 million square feet of successful Veterinary Hospital Plans.

Why retain a specialist veterinary design and/or build firm?
It is imperative for your architect to understand the unique issues in planning a veterinary facility. A veterinary architect speaks your vocabulary, saving you the time and money – allowing you to concentrate on being a veterinarian. We assure a functional design with proper traffic flow, low maintenance materials, odor and noise control and other innovations specific to your industry. Many elements routinely used in modern hospitals and clinics originated with our firm. We continue to be the innovation leader, raising the bar with every project. Animal hospital design and construction is all we do.

I’m not located in your area. Is distance an obstacle?
We have successfully designed hundreds of veterinary hospitals across the country and overseas. Our step-by-step system uses a mix of modern communication tools, on-site visits and overnight delivery to provide great service. During construction we have our on-site superintendent living in your town full time until project completion.

Isn’t Design/Build a conflict of interest for the Architect?
On the contrary. Design/build is really getting back to the idea of the Master Builder – who better to execute a design than the one who created it? In reality the separation of design from construction is a relatively recent event. Up until the mid 19th century the architect was directing construction, even into the mid 20th century it was not uncommon. Our industry is now recognizing the problems inherent with that separation – the often adversarial relationship between designer and builder, and placing the owner in the middle. Today Design/Build is an ever increasing project delivery method, and is predicted to overtake the Design-Bid-Build within this decade.

What are my service options?
We have service packages that range from feasibility studies to turn-key design/build, and will customize a package to fit your needs. Our main design options are: design only, where you have a local architect to prepare engineering and permit plans; Basic Services where we design as well as prepare the engineering; Design/Build where we also construct.

Why should I consider Design/Build?
There are several advantages, including better schedule and cost control, minimizing limitations inherent in traditional methods. One of the main weaknesses of design-bid-build is the bid process itself. Traditionally the architect prepares the design to the Owner’s needs and wants, attempting to guess to the best of their ability if it is all within the budget. The bidding contractor prices the construction when all the design and engineering documents are 100% complete – usually a 4-6 month process. By that point the bids are the bids. If your budget is 1 million dollars and the low bid is 1.3 million dollars, you have two options. 1) redesign and re-engineer – a costly process in both time and money, resulting in a different building than you originally envisioned, or 2) go get more money – also a costly alternative. With design/build your costs are known at the end of schematic design, months earlier, and at a point where options can quickly be evaluated at minor expense.

How do you charge for services?
Our design fees are based on project size, not on percent of construction cost or hourly rates. Our specialized knowledge can result in construction and operational cost savings in excess of our fee. This expertise is another thing that gives us an edge over local firms.

I already have a builder. Can you still work on my project?
Yes. Our design team can provide the planning and engineering services allowing your contractor to submit for the building permit and construct.

I already have an Architect, but they are not familiar with this project type. Is there a way for you to work with her/him?
Yes. In the case where you have a licensed design professional we can act as a design consultant. We program, budget and create the schematic designs. Your professional is granted a license to use that design to prepare engineering, permit and construction plans. We provide design documents in both paper and electronic format so re-drafting is not required. It is imperative, though, that you maintain correct sequencing – Veterinary Architect first, local Architect, then Contractor.

I have a limited budget. When will I know how much my project will cost to build?
Typically, within the first 90 days. One of the main advantages of our design/build process is that the cost is established very early in the schedule. Our first step is to define your needs in terms of space and equipment and generate a cost analysis. That cost is compared to your budget before any design is done. By reconciling the cost to the funds available for each part of the budget we define the cost target. The goal is to craft a design to fit that budget. At the end of schematic design a build proposal including a lump sum cost is submitted for your approval. In effect you have a hard bid from a licensed contractor before any engineering is done, at a point where changes can be quickly made without great expense.

How long will my project take?
Schedules are dependant on many variables and range widely. Our average project, assuming no lengthy municipal approvals are required, is about eighteen to twenty-four months from site investigation to occupancy. Some have been completed quicker. In locations where site, zoning or administrative approvals are burdensome it is imperative a timeline be factored into the master schedule, and their fees into the budget.

What geographic areas do you work in?
We design veterinary projects worldwide. Engineering and construction is limited to the 48 contiguous states.

I have a specialty/referral veterinary practice. Do you have experience with technologically advanced facilities?
We have been fortunate to be involved with several of the world’s most technically advanced private facilities, including the first veterinary application of a CyberKnife® Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) System. Our designs for specialty veterinary practices include CT, MRI, linear accelerator, gamma camera, fluoroscopy, orthopedic surgery, neurology, cardiology, Iodine-131, oncology, physical and hydrotherapy, and many others.

I’m buying land for my new animal hospital. How can I know if it will work for me?
Practice and site requirements vary widely. We offer a site investigation service to evaluate both as they relate to a proposed site. The report identifies potential hurdles, including costs and schedule, to achieving your goal.

Can you help me with equipping my new animal hospital?
Yes. As part of our goal to provide comprehensive service we offer an equipment ordering and coordination service. We will verify your requirements and preferences, place the order, coordinate delivery, and install the built-in fixtures. All of this for costs competitive with street purchase price.

Can you Design/Build cost effectively in my city?
Over the past decade we have developed a cost database from over one hundred actual construction subcontracts on our projects. By supplementing that with general construction cost database information we can accurately track and predict costs in your area. As a result we will be no more expensive than a local contractor on projects budgeted at $800,000 or larger. Occasionally a local contractor will state they can build for 10%, 20% or even 30% less, but they are not familiar with the quality and standards to which we adhere, nor are they aware of the complexities of a modern veterinary hospital. Ask them how much your central oxygen system will be, or radiology shielding, or ventilation system for odor control.

Are you licensed to do work in my State?
We comply with the licensing laws of each State and municipality we work in. Currently we hold registrations to provide professional services in 38 States as well as 26 construction licenses. In projects where services are limited to veterinary-specific planning we act as a design consultant to your licensed architect or professional engineer. Our construction company obtains licenses and insurance for every project prior to the start of its work.

Do you help with the site zoning approval and permitting process?
When we are retained as the veterinary hospital design/builder we will participate in all submittals and approvals necessary to complete your project.

Leading the World in Animal Care Facility Design

BDA Veterinary Architecture

CMP specializes in: Quality Construction and Design / Build Services Dedicated to Animal Care Facilities