Joseph
To meet the growing needs of the more than 23,000 veterans living in the Lakeland area of Florida, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is working to consolidate several local facilities into one expanded outpatient clinic. On 132,000 square feet – five times the size of the current clinic combined – the facility will be best suited to meet the needs of patients, now and in the future.
The Community Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic will be centrally located within the Lakeland community and only 4.5 miles from Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Patient parking at the front of the site, along with a covered drop-off area at the front of the building, will allow easy access for visitors, while dedicated staff stands and entry at the back of the building will increase efficiency.
The outdoor seating areas will provide veterans and visitors with a space to soak up the fresh air and sunshine of Florida. The site will include an outdoor canteen area and a therapeutic garden as well. Staff will have access to separate, dedicated outdoor space and multiple terraces on the second floor for convenience.
Inside, the material palette will echo the natural habitats of Florida, using cool earth tones, natural stone, and wood elements throughout to emphasize the area’s natural beauty. Additionally, floor-to-ceiling windows in the main hallway, along with large windows on all sides of the building, will flood the space with natural light.
The clinic will include primary care services, audiology, speech pathology, physical therapy, mental health, ophthalmology, prosthetic services and sensory aids. The clinic will also house a laboratory and a pharmacy as well as CT, X-ray, mammography, MRI and ultrasound techniques. To increase operational efficiencies, patient care spaces will be arranged around central staff work areas within each clinic.
Project details:
Facility name: Community Veterans Affairs Clinic
Location: Lakeland, Florida.
Expected completion date: mid-2023
Owner: Molaski Group of Companies
Total Building Area: A total of 132,000 square feet.
Total construction cost: to be determined
Cost / square meter. Foot: TBD
Architecture Firm: Gresham Smith
Interior Design: Gresham Smith
General Contractor: Corti Corporation
Engineering: Newcomb & Boyd (MEP), Thornton Tomasetti (Structural), Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. (Civil)
Builder: Korte Corporation
