Get a sneak peek of the School of Dentistry in the future Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building
By Kaitlin West

Construction has started on the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building, and as this next phase of the project begins, the vision of the future of the School of Dentistry is being realized daily in practice, research and of Dentistry is being realized daily in practice, research and discussion. That's because service to the community is built into the School of Dentistry's foundation, and leaders agree it should also be built into this new addition. Dental and dental hygiene students serve more than 15,000 patients a year, and the future building will see new and improved opportunities to impact the community through care.

The School of Dentistry will occupy the majority of the split-level building with clinics on the second, third and fourth floors. Facilities in the new building prioritize clinical care, while lectures, research areas and pre-clinic lab work will remain in the current building. Clinical operatories and an acute care clinic will be housed in the new building. The acute care clinic will bring endodontics, oral surgery and emergency care together into one self-contained clinic with its own radiology services. The highly unique design lets patients who are in pain remain in one location while providers come to them for treatment, as in a hospital emergency room.

The focus on patient experience will be prioritized in each part of the building, from the outside in. The building is bright and inviting, with natural light and open, airy spaces. The use of technology will better address the needs of today's clinicians and dental educators and will be thoughtfully incorporated throughout the building.

Here is a tour of some of the notable spaces showcasing the patient and student experience in the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building.

Patient Entrance
Established patients will self check-in at the patient entrance on the second floor. The kiosks will alert a dental or dental hygiene student that their patient has arrived. Staff will also be available to help with check-in. After check-in, clinical patients will be directed to the third- or fourth-floor lobbies. In addition to check-in, the second floor will also house the acute care clinic.

Lobbies
Patients will step out of the elevator or stairwell into a small waiting area, where they'll find a staff member who can help them make payments and appointments. The check-in process will be streamlined to avoid long wait times, and many patients will arrive to find their student dentists ready to lead them through secured glass doors to a treatment area.

Clinical Operatories
The clinical areas on the second, third and fourth floors will have 180 total operatories, which will be custom-sized, equipped for their specific purpose and in a bright, welcoming space. Mailboxes for students will be stocked with instruments for each appointment. The three clinical floors will include a centrally-located dispensary, making consumables and specialty instruments readily available. Central Sterilization (CSR) will be on another floor serviced by its own elevator.

Digital Design Lab
The new digital design facility on the fourth floor will house state-of-the-art technology for 3D scanning and CAD/CAM production. The design area will have the latest 3D- and AI-based treatment and case planning software. The new digital lab will be used to 3D print appliances and mill restorations and dentures using the latest technologies and materials. A traditional "wet" lab will be adjacent to the facility. The oral radiology clinic will also be located on the fourth floor.

Café
In addition to a planned food court in another area of the building, there will be a centrally located café space open to all students in the building, which will include an outdoor terrace. The café will provide an open, inviting place for students to spend time eating a meal, studying or simply taking a break between patients. It will feature refrigerators, microwaves, ice makers, coffee makers, vending and more.

Timeline

JULY-AUGUST 2024: Bidding and negotiations/Early construction
UMKC, in partnership with construction groups McCown Gordon and LM2, receives bids for subcontracting services, including dental and medical equipment, electrical, mechanical and landscaping. Access to the construction site will be limited in August, and construction for underground utilities and foundations will begin.

SEPTEMBER 11: An Ovation for Health Innovation Event
An event, to be held on the site of the new building, will celebrate the start of visible construction.

SEPTEMBER 2024- APRIL 2026: Construction

MAY-AUGUST 2026: Commissioning and start up
Equipment and systems will be tested. Special considerations will be taken into account for the medical nature of the building. For example, there will be ample time to test HVAC, electrical and medical equipment before the building opens, and extra attention will be given to the lighting so student dentists can accurately match teeth shades.