A unique veterinary facility
Janisse M. Cailles and her husband, designer/builder Glenn Likus, believe that a veterinary hospital can provide outstanding veterinary care in an environmentally respectful building. Historically, veterinary hospitals have not been energy efficient; modern facilities are often energy "burners" not "savers." The Cailles-Likus team collaborated on their dream of veterinary excellence in an environmentally friendly building. Oldwick Animal Hospital is the result of their pursuit.
Hone + Associates Architects designed our building in cooperation with Design Learned, Inc.
Green building
Jan Cailles and Glenn Likus applied their ecological building philosophy to every aspect of the hospital's design. Visitors will readily appreciate the harmony of subtle details such as discreet lighting, colors and materials. The building exemplifies environmental conservation in less obvious features such as the water harvesting method and heat recovery system. Even the landscaping features indigenous plants irrigated from rainwater runoff.
Compatibility with the physical environment
Oldwick Animal Hospital is located on Oldwick Road (just off Rt 78 along Rte 523/517) in Tewksbury Township. The design blends the agrarian roots of early Hunterdon County together with our twenty-first century development as a residential district. The farmhouse style building blends easily into this family oriented community. The hospital is a registered LEED project.
What is LEED?
LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In short, LEED is a rating system for buildings, equivalent to a gas mileage rating for cars. Under LEED, buildings accumulate points for things such as saving energy, having accessible mass transit, and mitigating storm water runoff. Once the points are tallied, the building earns a LEED rating. The higher the tally, the more sustainable a building is.
LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system which provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at increasing performance, reducing waste, and improving quality of life. (Source: Everblue Training Institute.)
Setting a new standard in the veterinary profession
For the veterinary industry, Oldwick Animal Hospital models the application of "green" standards to the design of new animal care facilities. Design demands unique to veterinary practice need not be sacrificed to achieve energy conservation. As space in Hunterdon County becomes more and more scarce, the hospital demonstrates judicious planning and zoning in which low-impact businesses buffer the transition from residential to business districts.
Highlights of our green building
With attention to its impact on the future community:
- Geothermal heat as the primary heating/cooling source, using a closed-loop system designed to have the least possible impact on the water table.
- Water harvesting tanks save rainwater for irrigation and other non-potable water usage.
- A storm water cleaning device purifies water that runs off the parking area before it is slowly released back into the environment.
- Landscaping with indigenous plantings and building shading to decrease energy demands.
- Roof and building color choices that promote lower heating and cooling demands.
- High-efficiency insulation utilizing recycled materials.
- Wood products from renewable sources (FSC certified) and reclaimed wood where possible.
- High-efficiency windows and window placement that takes advantage of natural light.
- Outdoor lighting design that minimizes light "pollution."
- Low/no-VOC adhesives and flooring for healthier indoor air.
- High-efficiency appliances and dual-flush toilets.
- Heat recovery units for higher heating efficiency.
- Siding with recycled content, procured locally to minimize trucking.
- A recycling plan for all construction waste, and re-use of the previous structure on the property.
- Occupancy sensors and energy-efficient lighting calculated to the lowest need.
Come see it for yourself.
Book a visit through the PetDesk app or give us a call.