HBW Construction combined practical healthcare facility construction experience with luxury finishes to bring a solo practitioner’s dream medical office to life.
When Dr. Jigar Sitapara decided it was finally time to build the practice of his dreams, he knew one thing for sure: it couldn’t look or feel like any other medical office.
“This was my first one,” he laughed. “So, we kind of went big.”
Big is right. Prime Facial Plastic Surgery’s newly built office on the Howard Hughes campus in Columbia, Maryland, overlooks picturesque Kitt Lake. With its floor-to-ceiling windows, luxury-grade finishes, and smart technology throughout, the space feels less like a doctor’s office and more like visiting a five-star hotel.
“It’s been a long dream, and it’s been awesome working with HBW to realize that dream,” Dr. Sitapara said. “I still have to take a step back sometimes and think, wow… our operating room has gorgeous windows and tons of natural light. I used to operate in what felt like dungeons in hospital basements. It’s a night-and-day difference.”
Building that kind of space didn’t come without challenges. The building itself was brand new, and Dr. Sitapara was the very first tenant. That meant the HBW Construction team had a blank slate—but also a few unexpected surprises.
“Healthcare construction can be very detailed,” recalled HBW Senior Project Manager John Hubbuch. “Here we battled with the concrete structure itself—solid slabs with a web of rebar. Just drilling for plumbing meant craning in a giant 3D X-ray machine to determine where we could drill.”
Through it all, the weekly project meetings became a highlight for everyone. “Every Wednesday morning, we’d sit down before I headed into clinic,” Dr. Sitapara said. “I’d be in my scrubs, and we’d just talk through everything—schedule, pivots, challenges. It never felt contentious. It was always, okay, here are the issues, here are the recommendations, let’s solve it.”
HBW agrees. “He’s just a great guy to work with—positive, collaborative, and really engaged,” John said. “When the owner’s energy is that good, it makes the whole project better.”
Does having an owner on-site impact the final build? At HBW, we’ve always valued strong relationships with our clients. Sharing their vision allows us to deliver exactly what they want, and it helps our teams build with intention. Knowing the emotions associated with a space, whether it’s excitement for a new school, passion for a beautiful restaurant, or pride for a hard-earned office space, can bring deeper meaning to every step of the process and every trade working on site.
What about owners with no experience in construction? Dr. Sitapara reports he never felt out of step with the HBW crew. “As a small business owner, it meant a lot that they helped educate me about my project. HBW works with big corporations and multi-physician practices, but they treated my solo practice with the same dedication. They made me feel supported every step of the way—explaining the “why” behind each decision and taking the time to teach me things I’d never known about construction. That extra care and patience made the vision come alive, and I don’t think I would’ve found that level of commitment anywhere else.”
From the start, the design vision was clear: no beige walls, no sterile waiting rooms. “I wanted this space not to feel like a medical office at all,” Dr. Sitapara explained. “I even hired a design firm that only works on high-end hotels and commercial real estate—they’d never done a medical office before. And that’s exactly why I wanted them.”
Every choice was purposeful, from dramatic black wallpaper to a modern chandelier that nearly doubles as an art installation to an impressive front desk. Even the surgical rooms feel warmly personal and luxurious, balancing the stringent medical requirements for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical with soothing lake views and custom millwork. The doctor’s own office got special treatment too—with a private bathroom he’d dreamed of.
“I wanted the whole experience for my patients to feel special, not just the outcome of surgery,” he said. “From the concierge-style check-in to the dedicated photo room to the natural light everywhere—it’s all about making patients feel confident and cared for.”
By December 2024, just four months after beginning work, Dr. Sitapara’s dream became a reality. Against a tight timeline, HBW delivered a space that the team calls one of their top medical building projects.
“This is probably one of the top offices I’ve ever been part of in terms of finishes and design,” John shared. “It’s really something special.”
And for Dr. Sitapara, it’s more than just a beautiful office; it’s the fulfillment of a vision, years in the making. “I’m grateful to HBW for taking this crazy idea and making it real,” he said. “They didn’t just build an office. They helped me build the experience I always dreamed of giving my patients.”
Senior Project Manager, John Hubbuch, has been with HBW Construction for over a decade, managing the details of construction projects and delighting clients.
Dr. Jigar Sitapara is the founder of Prime Facial Plastic Surgery and a double-board-certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. This office was his first construction project.
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