US Federal Properties Co. (USFP) announced it has been named developer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) new outpatient health clinics in Chattanooga, Tenn., Phoenix, Ariz., and San Antonio and Lubbock, Texas. These new clinics will expand the VA’s network of outpatient sites that serve 9 million enrolled Veterans annually and help to accelerate their access to care. The four new clinics will be designed to accommodate some 225,000 Veterans in 733,563 sq. ft. across all four facilities. In collaboration with USFP, which develops, finances, owns and operates federal government-leased properties, Hoefer Wysocki will lead the architectural and interior design of the new healthcare clinics.
USFP and Hoefer Wysocki have worked together for more than 20 years to design and develop more than 1.6 million square feet of VA and General Services Administration (GSA) facilities. Together, the USFP-Hoefer Wysocki team recently completed the VA San Jose Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Other joint projects include VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System’s PFC Floyd K. Lindstrom Outpatient Clinic at Colorado Springs; VA Outpatient Clinic, Grand Rapids, Mich.; VA Outpatient Clinic, Laredo, Texas; VA Jacksonville Outpatient Clinic in Fla., and VA Mobile Outpatient Clinic and Montgomery VA Clinic in Ala.
“We have partnered with Hoefer Wysocki for more than 20 years on public-private projects across the country. Together we’ve successfully delivered 1.6 million square feet of VA clinics and GSA facilities,” explains Rick Baier, Principal, USFP. “The community impact is virtually immeasurable. But knowing that we’re able to continue the mission of helping bring care to those who served in the Armed Forces is an incredible honor.”
“This is an exciting time for the VA as it strives to more effectively deliver care to Veterans and their families through patient-centered, healing environments,” said Mitch Hoefer, AIA, NCARB, and CEO of Hoefer Wysocki. “The VA is committed to community outreach and engagement, and delivering innovative healthcare services. As such, it has made an extraordinary investment to modernize its facilities across the U.S. We’re honored to be working so closely with USFP to support the VA’s long-term goals and core values.”
Each clinic is guided by a design theme that is woven throughout the interior and exterior spaces, resulting in an environment that is warm and welcoming for patients and visitors, provides efficiencies for providers and administrators, and engages the surrounding community.
“With the growing number of Veterans in our nation, it is imperative that their healthcare needs are fully addressed,” said Hosam Habib, AIA, principal, director of design at Hoefer Wysocki. “Each clinic is uniquely designed to empower Veterans to gain ready access to healthcare, to enable providers to deliver the highest quality care, and to engage and improve the communities in which the clinics are located. To that end, the design of each clinic is inspired by its community context, the site and its topography, and a spirit of compassion for our Veterans.”
- VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Chattanooga, Tenn. – “A Beacon of Hope” The design centerpiece of the single-story, 100,570-sq. ft. Chattanooga clinic is a transparent, iconic “Beacon of Hope” – a distinctive 32-ft. glass and wood structure that marks the main entry, creating a strong visual identity and sense of place. A brick veneer finish on the exterior imparts a feeling of comfort and permanence. The clinic is nestled into rolling terrain with native landscape and green space along Shallowford Road, an iconic memorial to Veterans. The outdoor environment, created through extensive landscaping, site amenities, architectural elements and native plantings, contributes to a setting conducive to healing by emphasizing a connection to nature. Waiting areas in the lobby feature expansive glass walls and a clerestory providing abundant daylight and views of the surrounding landscape.
- VA Outpatient Clinic, San Antonio, Texas – “Healing Embrace” The three-story, 236,595-sq. ft. VA San Antonio clinic welcomes patients with healing embrace – a grand curved front entrance that guides wayfinding upon arrival. An atrium floods the main lobby with natural lighting and serves to visually connect upper floors with the main level. The building’s sweeping curves are defined by a glass curtain wall, flanked on either side by stone veneer. The exterior is clad in Texas limestone and glass. Effective site integration with extensive native plantings result in a lush, park-like, pedestrian-friendly setting, further contributing to the healing experience. The interior design finishes create visual connections to the exterior – visual and physical access to the natural elements creates a healthy, relaxing environment to comfort patients and visitors, and improves staff productivity and retention.
- VA Outpatient Clinic, Lubbock, Texas – “A Healing Partnership” The design vision for the two-story, 124,696-sq. ft. VA Lubbock clinic is to seamlessly integrate with the Texas Tech University campus on which it will be developed while maintaining a distinct identity to welcome Veterans. Inspired by the university’s rich history and well-preserved Spanish Renaissance Revival architecture, the clinic’s exterior is reminiscent of this style and uses a complementary brick veneer and clay tile roofing. A soaring two-story glass curtain wall forms a majestic entry while flooding the interior with daylight, offering views of the surrounding campus, and creating visual connection between the upper and lower concourses.
- VA Phoenix Outpatient Clinic, Phoenix, Ariz. – “A Healing Oasis” The VA Phoenix clinic design is inspired by Arizona’s vibrant color palette, striations, elevations and geological formations. The site, located in the City of Phoenix Valley Metro light rail Gateway district, includes transit-oriented development (TOD) features with access to public transit, pedestrian connectivity, shading and other features required pursuant to the prevailing City of Phoenix Walkable Urban (WU) Code. The five-story building integrates with the site to capture mountain views that surround it. Other key design elements of the 275,157-sq. ft. clinic include deep fissures carved into the facades and roof of the building, which align with the rugged terrain. Sun-shading systems are integrated into the façade to efficiently and economically manage heat gain and ensure comfort. Dappled light filters through louvered panels into the cool and sleek interior, which mimic shade trees in an oasis. Linear paths and stairs frame the lobby to guide horizontal and vertical circulation and wayfinding.
In addition to USFP and Hoefer Wysocki, the design team includes Bob D. Campbell, structural engineering; Smith & Boucher, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering; Protection Engineering Consultants, LLC, façade design and specialty structural engineering; FSC, Inc., fire protection engineering; and Merrick, Green Globe consulting. Construction for each clinic is set to begin in summer 2019.
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