San Francisco Surgical Arts: A First of Its Kind
SAN FRANCISCO — The city by the bay is now home to the country’s first privately held surgical/dental office to achieve LEED Platinum certification. The 2,477-square-foot San Francisco Surgical Arts (SFSA), a new oral and maxillofacial surgical facility, is a product of collaboration between leading sustainable design, construction and consulting companies.
San Francisco-based Environmental Building Strategies (EBS) provided sustainability engineering and LEED consulting, along with expert medical design by the San Francisco-based Kohan Group, as well as creative material use and sustainable medical building tactics of Redwood City, Calif.-based All Phase Builders. The northern California companies used their experience and knowledge to develop a building that is slashing the cost of past utility bills.
“By working with EBS to implement environmental features from the design phase, SFSA expects a strong return on investment from energy, water and waste savings,” said Matt Macko, founder and principal of EBS in a statement. “SFSA is truly a leader in transforming the medical industry’s operations and values, and it was an honor to work with the doctors and the talented design team to continue advocating better buildings in the community we live and share in.”
For those not fully aware of the extensive green benefits of receiving LEED Platinum, an example from the company may help to put the building’s performance in perspective. SFSA’s existing office in Cupertino, Calif., was not built to achieve LEED Platinum status and is half the size of the new office in San Francisco, but spends three times as much on energy bills.
Not only is the facility achieving high performance marks in energy efficiency, but it’s also defying the stereotypes of bland health care design facilities. The staff has raved about the amenities and the project team has shown that going green is possible even within the constraints of a health care facility design.
“Our goal was to create a green practice to serve as an example for the health care community, showcasing the endless possibilities with today’s technology and sustainable building materials,” said Nima Massoomi, DMD, MEd, MD and co-founder of SFSA. “We’ve invested heavily in cutting-edge technology to improve our patient outcomes, while reducing the impact on our environment and local community. Our new facility dispels the typical feel of a surgical office, making our patients and staff feel as if they’re visiting a spa.”
The new facility mixes modern amenities with state-of-the-art equipment and a fresh, clean and comforting environment. Patients, staff and visitors, alike, can appreciate the commitment to energy efficiency and attention to detail in the design, operations and attention to patient care.
Energy-Efficient Features
• 37 percent reduced lighting power through LED lighting, occupancy sensors and lighting controls
• 90 percent Energy Star qualified appliances including LED monitors and solar-powered keyboards
• 100 percent paperless records and administration
• 40 percent reduction in water usage through pressure assist toilets and automatic faucets
• Post-consumer recycled content in steel framing, wall coverings, countertops and floor tiles
• Furniture containing 97 percent recycled content
• “Green Cleaning Procedure” to minimize building occupant exposure to hazardous chemicals
• Oil-free medical suction system featuring integrated amalgam-separator to prevent mercury waste into the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean
• A combination of 2D/3D medical CT imaging machine with one of the lowest radiation profiles on the market