The unconventional beauty of Dr. Steven Bloch's Highland Park, IL office, designed by Niedermaier Inc., is more than skin deep."
"It is rumored to have made Cher a symbol of graceful aging, and though it didn't save Ivana's marraige, it did help boost her confidence in life without The Donald. For Phyllis Diller, it has long been part of her comedy routine, but for Barbara Streisand, it was rejected as potentially damaging to a stupendous singing voice. Whether or not it's for you, it's undeniable that cosmetic surgery plays an important role in America's quest for beauty, and that the plastic surgeon is somewhat regarded as a cross between medical practitioner and magician. When one practitioner, Dr. Steven Bloch, relocated his successful Chicago practice to larger offices, it seemed only fitting that he enlist interior design firm Niedermaier Inc.to give his patients the architectural equivalent of what they seek from him.
One thing that is certain is that Dr. 
Bloch's new 2,000 sq. ft. office space dramatically reflects an appreciation of beauty, though beneath its rather atypical medical facade it has also been carefully designed to address the special needs of a particular breed of patient. 'This is largely elective surgery,' observes Bloch. 'I'm dealing with healthy people who want to improve their appearance. My patients don't stay in the hospital very long, so it's critically important to be able to follow them closely in the office.'
Thus, the plastic surgeon's office becomes an essential link between doctor and patient, where both are bound to spend considerable hours engaged in consultation and pre- and post-operative examinations. 'I spend alot of time here,' Bloch concedes. 'Like my home, which was designed by Stanley Tigerman, I wanted it to be architecturally interesting.'
The primary reason Bloch moved his practice just down the hall in the same modern office building in Highland Park, IL, however, was not the mere desire for aesthetic improvement. It was space. 'My practice has expanded in recent years and my previous office was cramped.,' explains Bloch. 'When presented with an opportunity to to move into new space that was 50% larger in the same building, I decided I was going to do it, and do it right.'
The striking design for offices, waiting rooms and exam rooms was developed by Niedermaier Director of Design, Thomas Schlesser."
Written by Jennifer Theile
CONTRACT DESIGN magazine