Frank Matarazzo has been practicing for more than 35 years, so why was he building a brand–new dental office instead of retiring? For one, he says, laughing, he has two teenagers who soon will be going to college. For another, he isn’t ready to give up his handpiece.

“I had no intention of retiring and this is probably the most important thing I could have done in order to continue practicing dentistry,” he said. “Our new office has given me a sense of enjoyment and fulfillment; I truly enjoy going to work every day and seeing patients in this environment. It makes me feel really good about continuing to practice dentistry.”

Milici agrees. “It has been wonderful to see how a new space revitalizes everyone and your quality of life. We love our work, and we work every day — we have to work — so it’s a quality of life decision. It’s not only affected our patients in a positive way, by us giving them the best we have to offer, but also our day–to–day existence has just blossomed!”

As seasoned professionals, Matarazzo and Milici were aware of the importance of the perfect team to help them accomplish their mission. Matarazzo had a long–standing relationship with Patterson Dental Territory Representative Philip Ianoale, with whom he has been friends since elementary school. Ianoale arranged a meeting between the doctors and Equipment Specialist Todd Garfinkel. Together, they talked through all of the doctors’ requests and recommended the team that would bring the practice to life, including architect John Malone and contractor Paul Lazar.

After Matarazzo secured the office location, Milici took the helm with a vision for the layout, equipment and interior design of the practice. Though it was a time–consuming process, she says the floor plan design was ultimately very rewarding. “It brought so much excitement in those early days. After about seven renditions, I saw things in my mind’s eye and we came up with a final design.”

“Dr. Frank and Dr. Anita were very involved, interested and open to exploring new ideas,” Garfinkel said. “We developed a very trusting relationship and friendship through the process of developing this vision of theirs.”

The result is a 4,800–square–foot office with 11 operatories. There is an elegant reception area that overlooks a four–story atrium, a spacious break room that also serves as a conference room, and two doctors’ offices with Milici’s occupying the corner of the building, which offers views of both the harbor and the skyline.

“When I initially told Anita about the Navy Yard, she was so excited,” Matarazzo said. “Her father was a naval doctor and officer in World War II and her mother, incredibly coincidentally, was stationed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard as a naval nurse.”

“I’ve always been in love with anything Navy, and the fact that my mom was stationed here, it just feels so right,” Milici said.