SAN JOSE, Calif. – Interdisciplinary architecture and design firm Hoefer Wysocki Architecture, of Leawood, Kan., completed construction of a 95,000-square-foot, three-story facility for the Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient clinic in San Jose this January.

The $40 million facility will now provide much-needed services for veterans and their families, with a new ultra-modern, sustainable design created to offer what is being dubbed as a “healing oasis” for patients at the San Jose clinic. The design was originally inspired by the scenic views of the Santa Cruz mountains, with exterior wood veneer composite panels and transparent glazing aimed to connect patients and their families closer to the outdoors as well as offer better community access.

Veterans Affairs Clinic Process Started in 2016

The first floor includes general registration, imaging, a lab and a pharmacy as well as a mental health outpatient clinic, according to a statement. The second floor will be designed for outpatient services including primary care, audiology and speech pathology, podiatry, optometry and dermatology. It is rumored that audiology, podiatry, and optometry tools will arrive in time once the floors are ready, and the third floor will be dedicated to additional specialty services including a women’s health clinic.

With the project beginning in early 2016, Hoefer Wysocki worked on an accelerated schedule, having approximately 24 months to complete construction, implementing lessons learned from previous VA facilities. With the site located adjacent to the US 101 freeway, they faced challenges in trying to position the building to achieve maximum daylight and minimum noise pollution. Using a PACT module, the design team worked toward ensuring better sight of the clinic from the adjacent freeway, securing mountain views and maintaining an optimal orientation for passive solar design to meet LEED requirements while also maximizing overall functionality within the specified budget, according to a statement.

A modular floor plan separates patient and staff corridors, reducing noise and activity levels, and contributes to a calmer healing environment. Waiting areas adjacent to exterior glass walls provide a view of the area’s mountains and plentiful daylight. An outdoor terrace on the third level also offers a haven for retreat and relaxation for patients and their families as well as clinic staff.

“This facility is being designed as a ‘healing oasis’ with a park and outdoor recreational areas,” said Hoefer Wysocki Lead Designer Hosam Habib, AIA, in a statement. “The concept is based on incorporating air, light and space so the design becomes a part of the healing process for patients.”

The San Jose community-based clinic will implement new technological tools to help maintain its modern design, with a highly efficient mechanical system to meet building requirements, second-generation glazing for solar energy, a dimming lighting system, low-irrigation plans to reduce water consumption, a solar water heater, a kiosk check-in and Wi-Fi technology for patients and staff. These features will help the clinic work toward earning its LEED Silver certification.

In addition, the campus will feature a memorial park for visitors to properly honor and thank U.S. veterans. The clinic is scheduled for occupancy in the first quarter of this year.

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The new hospital features several new technologies, such as UV Air Handlers and a water re-disinfectant system, that are focused on infection prevention.

"WellStar Paulding Hospital was designed with the guiding purpose of being the safest hospital in the world for patients, families, team members, the community and the environment," said Reynold Jennings, CEO of WellStar Health System, in a statement. "WellStar is committed to serving the people of northwest Georgia and metro Atlanta. We are always keeping an eye on innovation and forging new partnerships that will benefit our community and further our vision to deliver world-class health care."

The project also placed special emphasis on green technology and building practices. General contractor, Birmingham, Ala.-headquartered Brasfield & Gorrie, installed a geothermal heat pump system to provide heating and cooling to the facility. It is the first geothermal heat pump system to be installed at a hospital in the state of Georgia.

The new hospital features all-private inpatient rooms, a retail pharmacy, café and a beautiful eight-story atrium that connects the hospital to a new four-story medical office building. Patient rooms also feature nearby family areas that accommodate visitors.

"For more than 50 years, we have cared for our friends and neighbors in Paulding County," said Mark Haney, president of WellStar Paulding Hospital, in a statement. "While designing the new hospital, we have focused on three areas: family, energy and safety. Each plays a major role in helping patients heal. WellStar Paulding Hospital is a state-of-the-art facility that the people of northwest Georgia and Paulding County can be proud of."

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The move allowed improvements to be made to the UHS hospital and downtown campuses in San Antonio, including two new facilities: a six-story outpatient facility and a 12-story, 420-bed patient tower.

Since the groundbreaking of the downtown campus in December 2010, UHS has saved more than 12.5 percent on construction materials and equipment.

“Our long-standing supply chain relationship with MedAssets solidified our decision to engage their team in our extensive $932 million expansion initiative,” said Mark Webb, senior vice president, Facilities Administration, University Health System. “Expanding our organizational capacity is critical to our future financial viability. Obtaining outside expertise in managing this significant capital investment has already demonstrated its value.”

Owned by Bexar County, UHS is a nationally recognized academic medical center and partners with UT Medicine San Antonio. UHS is the only health system in South Texas to earn Magnet status, recognition for providing quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. There are currently 360 Magnet hospitals and health systems worldwide, and UHS is the 24th in Texas. UHS is one of the largest employers in Bexar County with 5,000 employees, almost 700 resident physicians and a 2012 operating budget of $947.6 million. The hospital currently has 489 beds and is one of 15 Level 1 trauma centers in Texas. It features the region’s only locally-owned and operated, not-for-profit HMO.

MedAssets provides financial performance solutions to health care providers for health care supply chain management and healthcare revenue cycle management. The firm works to help healthcare providers find cash from existing operations and improve margins, with the potential to increase net patient revenue by 1 to 3 percent and decrease hospital supply chain expenses by 3 to 10 percent.

“As a leading provider of total cost management solutions, MedAssets is deeply involved in multiple ways to help acute care organizations evolve business models and improve efficiencies,” said John Bardis, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the company. “We are gratified so many health care organizations are entrusting us to help gain greater fiscal control over construction projects that are fundamental to long-term strategic goals and to remain competitive as the nation’s health care system delivery structure changes dramatically.”

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