Wicker Park home to first dental practice certified for green building
Chicago's first green group dental practice is now also Chicago's first dental office to be certified for a green building. ORA Dental Studio Wicker Park, 1854 W. Division, was recently awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for its eco-friendly and high-performance design, construction and operation.
"We're all about providing a unique and comfortable experience for our patients," said Reggie Thurston, DDS, practice owner. "And that's what green design does. This is something you can't experience anywhere else in Chicago and is available few other places in the nation."ORA's green-building features include:
- Motion-sensor lighting, with all lighting consisting of LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures and Energy Star appliances
- Doors made of recycled resin
- Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint and flooring
- Reclaimed cabinets
- A high-efficiency mechanical system (Once installed, the system worked even more efficiently than originally envisioned, enabling ORA to surpass the LEED Silver rating it sought and achieve LEED Gold.)
Other health-promoting, eco-friendly aspects of the office include:
- Non-toxic materials, forgoing mercury fillings for BPA-free composite dental resins
- Digital photography, eliminating petrochemical waste and the need for lead aprons, bite wings and lead foils
- Digital patient communications
- Dry dental vacuums, which reduce water use
- A steam sterilizer, cutting chemical use and improving air quality
- Equipment that eliminates all biomedical waste on-site
"By using recycled and regional materials, energy-efficient equipment and sustainable design, the ORA team shows they care about everything they do," says Timothy Meseck a patient of the Wicker Park location and an architect. "By obtaining LEED Gold status, they show willingness to go above and beyond. And that includes caring about the surrounding neighborhood and environment."
ORA Dental Studio's spa-like setting has amenities such as treatment rooms with iPod docking stations; choice of HD satellite TV or radio; massaging dental chairs; neck pillows and soft blankets; and complimentary Wi-Fi.
A team type brand, ORA is owned by Dr. Mladen Kralj and each of three other dentists (Dr. Goran Kralj, Dr. Steven Koos, and Dr. Reggie Thurston) own their own locations.