Jacobsen Construction completes one of country’s largest veteran care facilities

Abstract

Dive Brief: The Phoenix 32nd Street VA Clinic, one of the largest veteran care facilities in the country, opened its doors June 27. The 275,000-square-foot Department of Veterans Affairs facility was built by Salt Lake City-based Jacobsen Construction, according to a press release from Hoefer Welker, the project's Kansas City-based architecture firm. Healthcare construction, particularly for outpatient clinics, remains a vibrant sector in the U.S. Starts reached $30 billion in 2021 and are forecasted to jump to $33.2 billion this year, according to Dodge Construction Network. Dive Insight: Veteran Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough recently called for veterans hospitals in the Northeast, Midwest and rural West to be closed as part of a push to address a shift in the population of military veterans moving to the Sun Belt and Southwest. At the same time, veterans are projected to increase their presence over the next decade in the Southwest region by 25%. In areas like New England, the veteran population is projected to drop 18%, reports the Washington Post. Hosam Habib, director of design at Hoefer Welker, said the company used its previous experience in designing more than 30 VA facilities to deliver a clinic that reflects veterans' health needs. "VA projects are very unique because they're centered around a mission to give back to the veteran community, which has very specific needs." The structure also incorporates climate-responsive design features such as high-performance glazing and adjustable solar panels.