Case Study

Mills River Dental

Industry

Medical, Medical Offices

Project Location

Mills River, NC

Project Scope

2,700 SF New Building
2,700 SF Renovation
1,070 SF Addition

Cooper Construction served as design-build contractor for Mills River Family Dental's comprehensive two-phase development, including the initial 2,800-square-foot dental office upfit and subsequent 425-square-foot expansion and renovation. The projects transformed retail center shell space into a fully operational dental practice and later expanded the facility to accommodate practice growth, demonstrating Cooper's ability to deliver phased healthcare construction while maintaining continuous clinical operations.

The initial upfit required the complete build-out of raw retail space into a specialized dental facility, including operatories, consultation offices, sterilization areas, staff spaces, and patient amenities. The project involved coordination of complex dental-specific building systems, including specialized plumbing for compressed air, vacuum, and filtered water lines throughout the treatment areas, HVAC systems designed for dental operatory requirements, fire sprinkler integration, and extensive electrical infrastructure to support dental equipment and technology. 

The expansion and renovation added four additional exam rooms and support spaces while the practice remained fully operational, requiring careful phasing and infection control protocols. The renovation included demolition of existing partitions, ADA-compliant ramp construction, integration of owner-furnished dental casework, installation of specialized finishes including shiplap accent walls, coordination of under-slab plumbing and electrical modifications, and seamless integration of new spaces with existing finishes and systems. Cooper successfully completed both projects while coordinating with dental equipment vendors and maintaining rigorous cleanliness standards appropriate for healthcare environments.