Innovative Orthodontics

Innovative Orthodontics is a 2,100-sf orthodontics practice run by internationally recognized orthodontist Dr. John Voudouris, who actively pursues research and development projects and holds multiple patents for new orthodontic technologies. He tasked us with designing a space that would reflect his experimental spirit and passion for art.

Upon entering the reception area, visitors are greeted warmly by a custom light fixture that spills down from the ceiling like a topographical sculpture. The curvature of the light is mirrored by the curvilinearity of the reception desk — a custom millwork design that swoops away from the wall to create a flat desk surface. The reception area also offers an initial encounter with Dr. Voudouris’s art collection: a large oil painting by Viviane Case-Fox, characterized by energetic brushstrokes, offers a colourful contrast to the otherwise soothing palette of white, glass, and brushed-metal that characterizes the clinic’s finishes. 

In addition to the artworks and photography hung throughout the space, the glass partitions between the clinic’s dental chairs feature hand-drawn diagrams of Voudouris’s orthodontic patents. These orthodontic art pieces demonstrate his creative contributions to the profession while also providing a privacy barrier between one dental chair and the next. Taken as a series, they imbue the clinical setting with context-appropriate whimsy and prompt curiosity and conversation. 

The fit-out includes seven orthodontic chairs, an orthodontic X-ray machine, lab space, areas for research and development, the reception area, as well as ancillary spaces for staff and patients. Design details, such as coloured LED lights and the sculptural ceiling fixture in the reception area, inspired motifs related to light and curvilinearity that repeat throughout the space and amplify the office’s visibility from the street through the glazing. The ceiling plan incorporates custom lighting and perforated aluminum panels throughout the central clinic space; the lights can be changed to fit the season or celebrate a holiday.