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By Candace Chase
The Daily Inter Lake
Saturday, October 15, 2005
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| Drs. Patrick Burns, Bret Lindsay and Donald Stone have a new building that represents a new idea for the Flathead Valley. "The three of us have been working on the concept of a neuroscience center for years." Burns said. All three physicians practice general neurology as well as sub-specialties. Burns specializes in sleep medicine, Lindsay in neurological imaging and Stone in the disorders of the spine. Their new 15,000 square foot building for the Glacier Neuroscience and Spine Center at 200 Commons Way features the neurology offices and exam rooms on the top floor. Burns' Sleep Disorders Center occupies the lower level. General contractor Hammerquist and Casalegno, Inc. broke ground a year ago for the building and the physicians occupied the building in September. They have an open house planned for 5 pm Nov. 1 to help them celebrate. The new facility was created with an eye to growth in the valley. According to Burns, his sleep medicine practice has grown "by leaps and bounds" in recent years. "We've gone from one employee to 10 employees in the span of four years," he said. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine approved the sleep center's five year accreditation a little over a year ago. Patients come to the facility with disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy. While the old facility had two beds for sleep studies, the new sleep lab has six beds. During the day, the physicians and staff use the area for electroencephalogram and other testing. ON the main floor, the neuroscience center has reserved space for professionals in allied fields such as psychology, pain management and neurosurgery. Burns said interest in the space has been heartening. "I think having a building will help us get that [concept] going," Burns said. "I'm very optimistic." Burns thinks the structure presents a unique profile for Buffalo Commons. "I'm sort of a big Frank Lloyd Wright fan," Burns said. A building in Arizona that Wright designed for his son particularly interested the physicians. It was built of cinder block, natural wood, metal and glass. "We looked at how well those materials went together, yet were cost-effective and low maintenance," he said. Jackola Engineering and Architecture designed the structure, with Sharon Jackola serving as the principal architect. The neuroscience center occupies the last lot that was available in Buffalo Commons. Because of the slope, each direction presents a unique view. "From one end, you have the glass high-rise look," Burns said. "As you go around, you develop the prairie-style motif view from the parking lot." Inside, the architecture features exposed steel beams for a post-modern element. Walls of glass provide dynamic views of the valley from the offices. "We wanted to create a place that's not only pleasing to the eye outside but where people feel comfortable inside," Burns said, crediting Jennifer Uskoski with creating a welcoming interior design. |
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