Hamel Dental: ADA Design Innovation Award finalist

by Stacie Crozier

When Dr. William Hamel, his son Dr. Philip Hamel and Dr. William’s wife Belinda Lutz-Hamel planned the renovation of their dental office in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, their goal was to embrace and preserve the midcentury modern style architecture and design of the original structure built in 1959 while adding modern functionality and additional space to the practice.

Ms. Lutz-Hamel, an artist and teacher of design, art history and architecture, is the facility manager of Hamel Dental. She worked closely with her husband and his son, the architects and construction and design teams on the year-long project.

“It takes more creativity to preserve history and retrofit versus demolishing and starting new,” said Ms. Lutz Hamel. The original plan, she said, was to build the addition abutting the original office first, then use a two-week vacation closure to remove the wall separating the two structures and to make updates in the original part of the office.

“As anyone with construction experience knows, there were problems,” she said, including construction workers who needed time off when they contracted COVID-19, pandemic-related supply chain issues and other delays. She said the practice embraced a lot of creative problem-solving, making construction work zones, taking advantage of COVID protocols like having patients wait in their cars instead of in the waiting room and escorting patients in through the back door. Although the project took much longer than they anticipated, it was still a good experience for the practice and the patients.

“Our patients were surprisingly supportive,” she added. “It was a time when our community was in fear of economic decline, but they considered our construction as hope for the future. It was challenging to practice dentistry around construction, but everyone pitched into the effort to achieve a more comfortable working environment.”

Outside, the new addition was built on an adjacent lot, using brick that matched the original structure. A pergola entrance was added to marry the old and new construction.

Inside, the project included adding a new operatory, a technology closet for a server, a larger family restroom and a larger, more welcoming reception area with a study bar/charging station, hospitality counter, low sofas and sturdy chairs. The operatories were spruced up and the hallways got a fresh clean look. They chose to refurbish some of their original furniture and added custom artwork to give the space a boutique hotel vibe.

A large and bright front desk area with pops of color welcomes patients to Hamel Dental.

Patients can relax while waiting in the reception area, or even charge their phones at the charging bar.

A new hallway marrying the new and existing structures offers a clean midcentury modern vibe of wood, glass and artwork.

A new operatory was added in the 750-square-foot addition.

31 sliding art panel for ADA access_Hamel

The new technology server is housed behind a sliding glass panel, offering easy access for staff and clean lines for patients.

The new ADA family bathroom features pops of color and a copy of Piet Mondrian’s Broadway Boogie Woogie on the wall.

The sterilization area received an upgrade for efficiency.

The office’s laboratory area offers expanded space for staff.

The project was designed to marry the existing 1959 structure to a new addition built on an adjacent lot, using brick that matched the original structure. A pergola entrance unites the old and new construction.

“We used a company that specializes in reworking office furniture,” Ms. Lutz-Hamel said. “Refurbishing some of our furniture did not save money but the older furniture is more substantial than a lot of newer pieces we could have bought and repurposing those pieces was more environmentally responsible.”

They settled on the new layout for the reception, lab and sterilization areas after talking with staff to get their ideas on how to improve patient flow and provide more workspace for staff. She said that implementing new technologies has improved communications with patients, staff and their practice management consultant and gives remote access to digital records. The new server closet helped them completely eliminate paper in the office and the renovated space was roomy enough to give each staff member their own workstation.

She said, “Dr. Philip led the initiative of updating the practice’s systems for information technology, sanitation equipment, lab, and security cameras, as well as installing a reverse osmosis system. Before he became a dentist, he had a degree in automotive technology and had also been a plumber, so his past experience was helpful with construction and technology issues.”

“Dr. William, “she added, “used his experience as a small business owner to oversee the financial arrangements for the project.”

The design for the renovated space plays up the original midcentury modern design and color scheme. The original building’s glass trompe L’oeil painted sidelight panels in red, yellow and blue served as the starting point for the interior design theme.

“The rectangles and squares of the sidelights reminded us of the painting “Broadway Boogie Woogie” by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, one of the pioneers of abstract art in the 20^th century,” said Ms. Lutz-Hamel. “The sidelights and Piet Mondrian inspired our branding and we carried them over to our updated space, using clean lines, muted tones, graphic shapes with splashes of vibrant color which is repeated in our logo. We also hung a copy of Broadway Boogie Woogie in the patient restroom.”

Fine-tuning the renovated space took some time, even after the major work was completed, she said. “For instance, we found that we had an acoustical problem in the reception area. I thought it might happen because there were a lot of hard surfaces there, so we had sound-absorbing panels installed. Although they are a little bland looking, they deaden the echoes, making it easier for our front staff to have conversations with patients.”

Ms. Lutz-Hamel says she and the staff have heard nothing but praise about the newly renovated space. “Having a nice place to receive treatment and to work matters,” she said. “It demonstrates respect, gratitude and commitment to our patients’ and staffs’ future. The big stuff—like windows and high-end countertops—are nice, but the patients comment most on the attention to details like the artwork and the midcentury modern touches.”

After being part of the community for nearly four decades, Dr. William Hamel and Ms. Lutz-Hamel say they are honored to know that the practice can continue to provide excellent patient care and to be a part of Clarendon Hills’ prosperity in the future.

“As Dr. William and I prepare to move over for the next generation, our dream is to leave a practice that provides the best care and experience for our patients, a wonderful work environment for our staff and to have a building that contributes to the economic development of the community we have been fortunate to be a part of for 38 years.”