Reno Oncology clinic mixes calming look with efficiency

When Reno Oncology Consultants purchased an 11,400-square-foot building at 6130 Plumas St., the four physicians in the practice knew they wanted to create a serene environment for patients who face the stress of chemotherapy.

But they also knew they needed to create an efficient space for the 35 people who work at Reno Oncology Consultants.

The balancing act is complete, and Reno Oncology Consultants has moved from its location at 85 Kirman Ave. to the new clinic a couple of blocks from Bartley Ranch Regional Park.

Renovation of the building, which previously housed a law firm, began with extensive meetings between the clinic’s physicians — Craig Corath, M.D., Suresh Reddy, M.D., Tejvir Singh, M.D., and Aaron Bowman, M.D. — and their architect, George K. Trowbridge of Reno.

A big question before design could begin, Trowbridge says, was the flow of patients, paperwork and staff through the building.

Lorry Duncan, who works as a practice management specialist with Reno Oncology, says a cornerstone element of the architectural plan is a patient education room.

It’s large enough to serve an entire family that’s gathered to hear the treatment plan for a family member — it’s not unusual, Duncan says, for as many as a dozen family members to be present — and it provides space for computer research.

A bullpen area in the center of the clinic serves as the nerve center for its staff.

The building also includes 15 examination rooms, physician and staff offices and an infusion room in which patients receive chemotherapy treatments.

The infusion room and the lobby area got particular attention from interior designer Marie Wikoff of Reno, a specialist in medical spaces.

In the lobby, Wikoff sought a soft, relaxing and calming space — something like the feel of a boutique spa. She used colors such as sage and aqua along with a combination of walnut and maple woods.

In the infusion room, Wikoff again sought a calming atmosphere, but she also used acrylic panels with grass-like patterns and a sculpted shape in the ceiling to create some interest for patients who spend lengthy times in the room.

Tico Construction Inc. of Reno handled the renovation work.