Creative Veterinary Spaces

Gone are the days when veterinary clinics were simply spaces to see patients. Today, a practice’s design and location can shape workflow, enhance client experience, boost staff satisfaction and drive growth.

In the following stories, Vet-Advantage examines the latest trends in veterinary office design and real estate. From a drive-thru wellness clinic that transforms garage bays into stress-free exam spaces, to viewing veterinary practice space as a strategic asset, to adaptive reuse and data-driven site selection, veterinary space is evolving rapidly. Forward-thinking practices are proving that thoughtful space planning is a critical tool for delivering better care, attracting top talent and future-proofing the business.

Photo Credit:

istockphoto.com/janiecbros

Reinventing the Veterinary Visit

Where most business and property owners may have only seen a garage bay, Dr. Marty Greer saw an opportunity to transform how preventive veterinary medicine was delivered.

For pet owners visiting the Checkout Veterinary Drive-Thru Wellness Clinic in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, for the first time, the experience is refreshingly different. Gone are the days of navigating crowded lobbies and waiting rooms filled with anxious animals. Instead, clients drive into one of four spacious garage bays, where they can remain in their vehicles or step into a private exam room designed to minimize stress for both pets and owners.

This innovative approach, developed over seven years of research and planning, offers a streamlined and low-anxiety alternative to traditional veterinary visits in traditional veterinary spaces.

Indeed, the Drive-Thru Wellness Clinic model reimagines what a stress-free veterinary visit looks like. With more than four decades of experience, and training as a certified Fear Free veterinarian, Dr. Greer says the clinic’s design has done more to ease patient anxiety than any single technique.

“Fear Free is basically, do you know how you handle the pet? Do you give them sedative drugs so they’re calmer? Do you feed them? We’ve done that forever,” Dr. Greer said. “But the design of the building has had a major impact.”

Instead of navigating crowded lobbies and stressful waiting rooms, pet owners drive directly into a garage bay. Dogs can remain in the car if they’re more comfortable or roam the open space without feeling confined. Cats avoid the stress of being carried past other animals.

With glass garage doors that let in light and offer visibility, the environment feels more natural and less intimidating. “Exam rooms cannot duplicate this,” Dr. Greer said. “Not having a lobby is simply more comfortable for pets – and their people – than traditional settings.”

Indeed, convenience and comfort are at the heart of every visit. Dr. Greer said clients consistently praise the clinic for how relaxed their pets are. “They’re not stressed, they’re not worried about the dog lunging at the other dog in the lobby, and they don’t have to wait,” Dr. Greer explained. “You’re in and out in 15 minutes. It’s convenient, it’s comfortable.”

Though the drive-thru model prioritizes efficiency, it doesn’t compromise care. Each visit includes a complete physical exam, lab work and any outpatient wellness procedures, though surgeries and X-rays are handled at the main veterinary hospital. Weekend appointments extend access for working pet owners, ensuring families don’t have to disrupt busy schedules to care for their pets.

Dr. Greer emphasized the convenience and safety benefits: “In the weather, when it’s cold and windy and snowy, or icy, it’s really safe. When people have physical limitations, or they’ve got kids, they can either sit in the vehicle or run around the garage bay.”

The clinic doesn’t offer surgery or X-rays, so the equipment needs are minimal, keeping operations lean while maintaining full wellness care. Looking forward, Dr. Greer envisions this model expanding, either as standalone clinics or as “hub-and-spoke” extensions of larger hospitals, offering outpatient wellness services without requiring clients to enter the main building.

“For people with jobs, soccer games, doctor appointments, or other commitments, the ability to pop in without taking half a day off is huge,” Dr. Greer said. By combining a stress-free environment with flexible scheduling, the Drive-Thru Wellness Clinic is redefining how veterinary care can fit seamlessly into modern life – making pets, and their owners, more comfortable every step of the way.

Industry Interest

Building the first-of-its-kind clinic had its challenges, but none insurmountable. Zoning officials were curious about traffic at the busy intersection, especially since the clinic shared a driveway with McDonald’s. Dr. Greer explained the concept, and excitement quickly replaced skepticism. Even her banker, initially hesitant, turned into an enthusiastic supporter. “He looks across the desk at me, then down, then back up and shakes his head: ‘I don’t want you to build one of these; I want you to build three,’” she recalls with a laugh.

Dr. Greer’s patented model has also garnered the attention of colleagues. Several veterinarians intrigued by the concept have visited, watched videos, or even come as clients themselves, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“People that have seen it … they absolutely love it,” Greer said. “I have a consultant, one of my VMG partners, who came here with his wife, and they were like, ‘Oh my God. This is the best.’”

Photos courtesy of CheckOUT Veterinary.

Designed for Growth

Veterinary practices often view their physical spaces as a cost to manage. But Scott Manning, national sales director, planning and design at Midmark Corp., believes clinics should start thinking differently. He says the right design decisions can transform a practice into a strategic asset that drives growth, efficiency and brand experience.

“A well-designed practice can feel more like hospitality than healthcare, fostering client loyalty and differentiating the clinic,” Manning explained. He noted that cutting corners on design or equipment can backfire. “Having to replace equipment in 4-5 years puts practices at a disadvantage compared to investing right the first time.” Even areas often overlooked like sterilization hold untapped potential. “Think of sterilization as a process instead of just sterilizing equipment. This can help create a safer, more efficient space for your staff to work,” he said.

When it comes to competitive advantage, Manning believes the key lies in tailoring design to both community needs and workflow. “The competitive advantage comes from creating a facility that feels unique and aligns with community needs,” he said. Some practices, for example, are using veterinary technician appointments to shift routine care into exam rooms, freeing up treatment space and DVM time. Others are adopting self-rooming to reduce patient anxiety and save staff time. “Clinics that add services like boarding, grooming or training stand out as one-stop shops for pet care,” Manning added.

Beyond efficiency, design can also shape the client experience. “Every patient and workflow may differ, but the space should always support consistent care delivery,” he said. Standardizing care zones where equipment and supplies are always in the same place helps keep staff focused on clients and patients. For patients in recovery, calming details matter. “Features like quiet-close latches, limited sightlines and comfortable surfaces help reduce stress and foster healing. A calm, well-organized space also reassures clients that their pet is safe and cared for, building confidence in both the team and the clinic overall.”

Staff satisfaction is another critical outcome of thoughtful design. Manning recommends engaging team members early in the process. “Input from all practice roles helps ensure new construction or renovations address daily pain points,” he said. Simple changes, such as reorganizing workflows or adding mental reset spaces, can significantly improve culture and retention.

Midmark has also applied these principles outside traditional clinics, particularly in shelters. “Many shelters that once only offered spay/neuter are now expanding to provide more complete veterinary care services,” Manning noted.

Future Spaces

Looking ahead, Manning envisions modular, adaptable facilities. “As the cost per square foot rises, clinics must do more with less,” he said. Flexible layouts, mobile carts and wall-mounted equipment allow teams to reconfigure spaces throughout the day. “This flexibility allows teams to adapt quickly to changing patient volumes and services, helping the practice do more with every square foot.”

As veterinary medicine embraces personalized, wellness-centered care, Manning believes physical spaces will evolve as well. “Dedicated wellness zones for preventive services like specialty or senior care should have their own areas. Indoor/outdoor exam rooms make spaces feel less clinical and more natural.”

In Manning’s view, the veterinary clinic of the future will not only care for animals – it will embody a seamless blend of hospitality, efficiency and adaptability.

Photo Credits:

istockphoto.com/Valerii Apetroaiei

istockphoto.com/gorodenkoff

From Banks to Breweries: The Rise of Adaptive Reuse in Veterinary Care

Veterinary medicine is changing – not just in how care is delivered, but in how practices think about their physical spaces. According to Daniel Eisenstadt, founder and CEO of Terramed (formerly Terravet), veterinary real estate is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by new entrants, shifting client expectations and the rising cost of construction.

Companies like Bond Vet, Modern Animal and Small Door have been at the forefront of reimagining the urgent care model, he said, prioritizing technology and design to improve both client experience and workflow.

“Almost by definition, they’re looking for spaces that are urban, retail and highly visible,” Eisenstadt said. “They’re viewing it very differently than a traditional general practice veterinarian, who might have wanted to be near a Starbucks but didn’t necessarily care about foot traffic or layout in the same way.”

These newer entrants are also rethinking footprint and function. “They’re often taking smaller spaces and trying to reimagine how care is delivered,” he said. “There’s pressure from new entrants to use space more efficiently, while veterinarians and pet owners increasingly want modern, purpose-built healthcare environments rather than converted houses. There’s a drive to build new facilities to recruit and retain veterinarians and staff, and to meet client expectations.”

But building new doesn’t come cheap.

“The cost of building a 5,000- to 10,000-square-foot building from the ground up is genuinely cost-prohibitive,” Eisenstadt said. “Rent in those cases can end up being twice the market average. Veterinarians will sometimes do it because it’s their dream project – but their rent becomes a very high percentage of revenue.”

Reimagining and Reusing Space

With costs rising, adaptive reuse of existing buildings has become an increasingly practical solution.

“Pet owners and doctors want to be in fresh, medically thoughtful spaces that have good flow,” Eisenstadt said. “That often means adaptive reuse, because new construction is so expensive.”

Ownership structure also plays a role. “Entrepreneurial veterinarians were more likely to say, ‘I’m going to build the building I’ve always wanted, no matter the cost,’” Eisenstadt explained. “Corporate groups aren’t doing that. They’re making business decisions about how to move great practices out of the wrong facility and into a space where they can grow.”

Adaptive reuse offers a middle ground – balancing cost, efficiency and growth potential. “Repositioning existing space is going to be more cost-effective and has a tighter timeline,” Eisenstadt said. “Building from the ground up means going through entitlements, city and state approvals, and extensive site work. Adaptive reuse avoids a lot of that.”

Terramed has worked with practices across the country to reimagine spaces, converting former breweries, furniture stores, and bank branches into purpose-built, high acuity medical space. “It’s often easier if it’s a simple box,” Eisenstadt said, pointing to a project in Roseville, California, where Terramed partnered with NVA Ethos to convert a 40,000-square-foot furniture warehouse into a modern veterinary facility.

“Old pharmacies like Walgreens or Rite Aid are also very attractive,” he added. “Those are typically 8,000 to 12,000 square feet, have sufficient parking, and are located in highly trafficked commercial corridors. We’re seeing many of them converted to medical and veterinary use. It’s a straightforward box, which makes adaptive reuse extremely viable.”

Other options include former bank branches, though those can be trickier. “They’re a little funkier because of the size and layout,” Eisenstadt said. “But they’re still popular, especially in strong locations.”

Zoning, however, is often the biggest hurdle. “If you’re not in a truly commercial area, it’s hard to create outdoor space for hospitalized dogs,” he noted. “That’s why those pharmacy and bank locations tend to work so well.”

In tight real estate markets like Seattle, Terramed has found success helping groups locate flexible spaces that serve both operational and community needs. Eisenstadt pointed to a Blue Pearl facility in Renton, Washington that converted a brewery into a veterinary practice space: “It’s such a tight market, but this flex industrial space blends with nearby retail, hotels, and residential. It’s a great spot because of that mix.”

Designing for Efficiency and Staff Well-Being

Once practices move into repurposed buildings, they often use the opportunity to redesign their workflow. The first change? More exam rooms.

“Everyone always puts in too few exam rooms the first time around,” Eisenstadt said. “Doubling the number dramatically improves efficiency.”

Treatment areas are also changing. “We’ve seen many practices design doctors’ offices with visibility into treatment areas,” he said. “It’s a great way to improve oversight and communication.”

Flow – how clients, patients and staff move through the building – is another major focus. “You want reception, exam rooms, pharmacy, treatment and surgery connected in a logical sequence,” Eisenstadt said.

Staff areas are also getting more attention. “There’s now genuine focus on creating a real space for the team,” he added, pointing again to Blue Pearl’s Renton facility, which includes a dedicated second-floor break area.

Labor remains the defining challenge in veterinary medicine – and it’s now shaping real estate decisions.

“What’s driving a lot of renovation, new builds and adaptive reuse is the need to attract and retain veterinarians,” Eisenstadt said. “It’s hard to do that in a cluttered, outdated space. That’s driving much of the investment we’re seeing.”

He added that practices are rethinking everything from break rooms to parking. “People are realizing that staff parking is distinct from client parking,” Eisenstadt said. “We have a hospital in North Carolina where we built a separate staff lot just to make room for clients. Another in the Pacific Northwest actually bought a lot across the street for staff parking. Parking can become a limiting factor for growth.”

Rethinking Location Strategy

Another major shift is how practices choose locations. In the past, veterinarians often stayed in the same spot for decades. Today, that’s changing.

“When I got into the industry 15 years ago, a practice would stay in one location for 40 years,” Eisenstadt said. “Today, we’re seeing corporate groups much more willing to relocate. It’s still a minority of cases, but it’s a big change from when relocation was almost unheard of.”

Corporate ownership and access to data have made site selection more strategic. “The old location might not have enough space to expand, or connectivity to major highways,” he said. “Groups are using heat maps to understand where clients and staff are coming from. There’s a lot more sophistication in choosing where to be.”

The Hidden Risk of Deferred Maintenance

Even as new builds and relocations grab attention, Eisenstadt warned that deferred maintenance is becoming a hidden risk in the industry.

“You have situations where a veterinarian sells their practice but keeps the real estate,” he explained. “They move to Florida, the corporate group rents the space, and now no one’s really responsible for maintenance. The practice manager has a million other things to worry about and doesn’t have that sense of ownership.”

Small issues like a leaky roof or outdated HVAC system can accumulate over time. “These buildings are used really hard,” Eisenstadt said. “They’re running 14 hours a day with high traffic and heavy use. With expanded hours, you have to ask, ‘what’s going on behind the walls?’”

Extreme weather is adding pressure. “We sometimes put our heads in the sand, but extreme weather events are increasing,” he said. “If you had one major storm every 50 years, now it’s happening every 10. That takes a toll on buildings. We shouldn’t underestimate weather’s impact on wear and tear.”

The Role of Distributor Reps

Amid these challenges, Eisenstadt believes distributor representatives can play a critical role in helping practices adapt.

“Distributor reps have always had a unique perspective,” he said. “They see 30, 50, 100 hospitals. They know what’s new, what’s working, and what’s not. They can bring best practices back to the local level.”

Sometimes, small changes can make a big difference. “I’ll walk into a building and think, ‘If you just ripped out the front and added two exam rooms, you could fundamentally change your workflow,’” Eisenstadt said.

Reps can also connect practices with trusted vendors for roofing, HVAC, and other infrastructure needs – helping address deferred maintenance before it becomes costly. “It’s not their direct business,” Eisenstadt said, “but they have valuable insight and connections. They can be incredibly helpful.”

Building for the Future

For Eisenstadt, veterinary real estate has reached a turning point. As the profession continues to evolve, the spaces where care happens – their size, design, and location – will play a defining role in attracting talent, improving efficiency, and meeting the expectations of a new generation of pet owners.

“Veterinary practices are at an inflection point,” he said. “The way we think about real estate today will shape how veterinary medicine is delivered for decades to come.”

Photo courtesy of HomeJab.