East Side Veterinary Services reimagines the modern animal-care environment through the lens of Fear Free design principles—creating a clinic that reduces stress for pets, owners, and staff alike. The 12,400-square-foot facility, located in east Springfield, Missouri, combines evidence-based wellness design with the warmth and authenticity of the Ozark landscape.

The building’s butterfly roof and exposed laminated-timber structure draw daylight deep into the interior while giving the form a sense of lift and openness. Clad in weathered metal and native stone, the exterior roots the project in the regional vernacular—bridging state-of-the-art veterinary technology with a material palette that feels familiar and grounded.

Interior planning and early consultation with Boulder-based Animal Arts informed the project’s Fear Free approach: clear sight lines, species-specific traffic patterns, acoustic separation, and abundant natural light all contribute to a calm, health-focused environment. The result is a clinic that prioritizes both physiological and emotional well-being, balancing technical precision with biophilic warmth.

East Side Veterinary Services stands as a new model for regional animal care—one that belongs to its place, honors the Ozark Modernist ethos of simplicity and material honesty, and quietly elevates the everyday experience of healing.