Open Space For Close-Knit Staff

Many laboratories create esthetic restorations, but some owners and their teams are lucky enough to work in facilities that are as beautiful as the work they create. In this second installment of LMT's Laboratory Showcase series, we debunk the myth that bigger is better, profiling two labs whose ergonomic design maximizes a small amount of space.

Jim Pierce, owner, Bio Aesthetics Dental Studio

"At the end of the day, I don't want my employees to feel like they've run a marathon," says Jim Pierce, owner of Bio Aesthetics Dental Studio in Grand Junction, Colorado, which opened in January. So when Pierce was designing his 1,300-sq.-ft. laboratory, he created a logical, efficient layout for the porcelain, casting and ceramics departments so his three employees don't have to backtrack during the fabrication process.

Open and roomy, the layout also lends itself to a close-knit staff. "We like the camaraderie that comes with a small...