Designing an environment to foster a paradigm shift in dental education

Texas A&M University
Clinic & Education Building

Dallas, Texas

Texas A&M University’s College of Dentistry's new Clinic & Education Building was designed to support their mission to provide patient care to under-represented populations and their strategic goal to increase student enrollment. The new nine-story, state-of-the-art, patient-centered facility is dedicated to clinical training for upper-level and graduate dental students.

The building was intentionally designed to accommodate college growth and foster a paradigm shift in dental education as the college seeks to maintain competitiveness in both education and research. The new building includes over 300 dental chair stations which integrate the latest technologies, specialized clinics, support areas, faculty areas, classrooms, study spaces and patient parking to provide a convenient patient experience.

Leadership leveraged the project to overhaul the college’s curriculum to foster a team-based approach that is patient-centered and reflects the more collaborative learning style of today’s students. This group practice model exposes students to numerous specialists and foster students’ engagement in their work, with each other, and with their patients, helping prepare them to work in whichever practice model they choose.

Kahler Slater led the programming, planning and design in partnership with Dallas firm BRW Architects, who served as Architect of Record.

Powerful Results

Award of Excellence
International Interior Design Association Wisconsin, 2021
Gold Award
American Society of Interior Designers Wisconsin, 2021
Outstanding Design Award
American School & University Architectural Portfolio Award, 2020
Best in Precast Award
Precast Concrete Manufacturer’s Association for School/Educational Building category, 2020
+25%
Estimated increase in enrollment due to new facility
+40%
Estimated increase in capacity to provide patient care