Portland dental office scores a platinum rating

It’s not easy to obtain a the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum rating but that’s just what Dr. Jason McMillan achieved with the construction of Mint Dental Works in Portland. His is the first dental office in the United States to earn such a distinction.

It goes without saying that a dental office uses a lot of water. Mint Dental has found a way to reduce consumption as much as 90 gallons a day by using a waterless evacuation system. The office is plus equipped with motion sensor faucets. All lights have fluorescent lights screwed into them to lower energy costs and the appliances are are Energy Star rated. All energy used in the office is

purchased from renewable sources.

The most interesting part of the building for me is not only the fact that recycled materials were used in the construction but that they were used in their original style rather than ground up and re-manufactured. Old doors from a school are hung in the office. The lighting fixtures are vintage and part of a reception wall is built with old plinth blocks. The wood floor is reclaimed from a bowling alley.

Dentist offices are meant to exude sterility and modernity. I think that considering of that, most dentists would shy away from vintage materials. It’s encouraging to see what Dr. McMillan has done with his Portland office.

[Source] Kelly Leahy

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