James R. Thompson, Inc.

A child's trip to the Sixth Floor Plastic Surgery and Orthodontia Clinic could result in all smiles

MAKING a child's first trip to the orthodontist as painless as possible was the challenge for James R. Thompson, Inc. This award-winning project, costing just over $700,000, involved incorporating a sense of plan into a medical environment.

The Sixth Floor Plastic Surgery and Orthodontia Clinic is an extension of the Children's Dental Clinic in Dallas' Exchange Park. The facility is dedicated to children under age 14, and mimics a circus or amusement park atmosphere. The key to making this design work was the finishes. Radius edges, geometric shapes, vivid colors and neon lighting delight the small visitors. However, meeting the architect's exact specifications on a limited budget proved to be a constant challenge. Design features include: custom paint colors, round columns topped off with multi‑level capitals lit in neon, carpet inlays that mirror shapes painted on the wall and serpentine furr-downs (some turning 180 degrees in a tight radius) lit with neon on the outside surface. The project manager and the superintendent were put to the test to make the ideas work while staying on budget.

For this project, function was as critical as form. The team constructed a cabinet with more than 300 tiny drawers, designed to hold the patients' dental molds. The face of each box was painted with multicolored patterns, which, when the drawers were all closed, created a full color mural. Initially, the pattern was to be created with plastic laminate shapes, but that process proved too intricate and costly, so the graphics were hand-painted instead. In addition, installing the medical equipment had to be integrated into the construction, and the equipment was not always available on the team's schedule. Other technical challenges had to be overcome when a new HVAC system was installed to replace the building's original 1957 system. Because of the team's hard work, children who visit the Plastic Surgery and Orthodontia Clinic can delight in a space filled with light, color and a sense of play.