A local dentist is having a new building constructed on the site of the former Olds Junior-Senior High School, along Highway 27, just west of the new Cam Clark Ford location.
Dr. Gibb Fitzner, whose dental practice is currently located across the street in Mountain View Plaza, says the new 3,960-square-foot, one-storey building is expected to be completed next January or February.
Fencing is now up and a construction trailer has been moved on-site.
“I've been here four years and it's a good clinic and good space, but it's really dated and I've always kind of wanted to own my own real estate,” Fitzner said during an interview with the Albertan.
“I decided to either renovate this place and keep getting leased forever, or build my own place. So I decided to move out,” he said, adding this option gives him room to expand if necessary.
“I'm going to build it bigger than I need to start with and then if I grow, then I'll use all the space and kind of fill it out,” he said.
However, a couple of bays might be leased by Fitzner's brother, Scott Fitzner, a podiatrist.
“He might be leasing a couple of bays from me and come in and do foot doctor work once every couple of weeks or something like that,” Fitzner says.
Fitzner had originally hoped to move into the new building around Christmastime, but those plans changed after talking to the structural engineer for the project.
“It's an old demo site and the soil's pretty terrible on that lot,” Fitzner says. “They're going to be removing a few feet of soil underneath the footprint of that building, and the parking lot and then packing in new fill.”
A Calgary company that has built several dental offices will be the general contractor. Fitzner says it will be subcontracting to local firms.
The exterior of the building will be a combination of stucco and metal. A lot of thought has gone into what it will look like.
“The theme is kind of more of an Alberta theme – mountains and plains and stuff,” he says. “Basically, the metal siding's going to be put on in an interesting way; kind of cut in diagonal pieces.”
Fitzner is originally from Edmonton and has worked in Edmonton and Fort McMurray before moving to Olds about four years ago.
“I can't say that I've been disappointed, living here in Olds. I'm definitely super happy with the people; my patients are awesome and my staff is awesome. So we're definitely here to stay; we really enjoy it here,” he says.
At the east end of the lot is a big tree which was spared when the old Olds Junior-Senior High School, which used to sit on that site, was demolished in 2010.
The tree was donated by former Olds College school of horticulture instructor Dave Herbert. It was planted there by former Olds High School French teacher and environment club leader Pierre Lambert.
The Chinook's Edge School Division and the community convinced the demolition company to leave it.
Fitzner says he will “definitely not” knock down the tree as part of the construction process.
“We love the tree, and we're actually going to be using it in our logo,” he says. “Our new dental logo will actually have a picture of the tree photoshopped into (it). So we're kind of bringing the whole tree into the design of our office.
“We're actually going to have an arborist look and make sure everything with the tree is OK. We're building it far enough away that there's no chance that anything could damage the tree or anything,” Fitzner adds.
“We're going to put a couple of benches and stuff around the tree so people can come – or our staff can have lunch there, whatever.
“We're definitely going to protect the tree and make sure it's good for a long time.”
"Our new dental logo will actually have a picture of the tree photoshopped into (it). So we're kind of bringing the whole tree into the design of our office."DR. GIBB FITZNER
