He got his start at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Annapolis, Md., after graduating in 1998, but now Bruce Watkins, DDS, captains a brand-new ship: Watkins Family Dentistry in Elkhart, Ind.

The practice is an anchor of the Elkhart River Walk redevelopment project in the heart of downtown and brings a vital new influence to the area, attracting 30-40 new patients every month.

Dr. Watkins' reason for building a new office was that, at 1,000 square feet, he and his staff of five were squeezed for space. He had invested in digital technologies - with both GALILEOS 3D cone beam and CEREC systems - and needed an updated office and more space to showcase them. Watkins wanted a building that looked like a mountain retreat, with a rugged lodge look and comfortable patient amenities. He spent hours upon hours researching images of lodges and resorts online, and in May 2011, he began the design process with his contractor and architect on the project, Tom Borger of Borger Associates.

"I kind of had an idea that I wanted what we call a modern mountain look," Watkins said. "We wanted something different than just a square brick building. We wanted it to look like a lodge - give it a comfortable, relaxing, vacation feel."

The stunning new building won an award from the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce and truly brings Watkins' fondness for the outdoors to the forefront. In fact, this off-road Jeep enthusiast built a practice with a real sense of place in a beautiful, nature-filled location where Jeep aficionados and other outdoors lovers would feel right at home.