The Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a contract to Childress Klein-Cambridge Healthcare Solutions LLC to design, build and provide facility management for a VA Health Care Center in Charlotte.
The 295,000 net usable square feet Health Care Center will be located on approximately 35 acres of land at the intersection of Tyvola Road and Cascade Pointe Boulevard, near the Tyvola Road/Billy Graham Parkway interchange. This location provides easy access from major thoroughfares, which was an important consideration in the VA’s selection of the site.
The center is being constructed to meet the projected growth of the veteran population in the Charlotte area. Construction is expected to start in early 2014 and be completed by February 2016 with the center slated to begin seeing patients summer 2016. The Charlotte Health Care Center will be one of two operated by the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury. The second health care center will open in Kernersville about the same time.
According to Daniel F. Hoffmann, VA’s Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network director, when compared to the nation as a whole, the Mid-Atlantic region has seen the highest and most consistent rate of growth of veterans over the last 10 years. Responding to this growth and preparing for the future, the network has grown from 10 to 37 operational sites of care.
“This new facility will enhance access to care for thousands of veterans living in and around Charlotte,” Hoffmann said. “The Health Care Center is being designed to be patient centric. It will be equipped with the finest diagnostic and treatment capabilities available and will provide primary and mental health care as well as many specialty clinics.
As developer of the Charlotte project, Childress Klein Properties of Charlotte and Cambridge Development Group (a subsidiary of Cambridge Holdings LLC) of Washington, D.C., partnered to form Childress Klein Cambridge Healthcare Solutions LLC. The Childress Klein Cambridge team combined its development expertise with their financial partner, Halle Enterprises of Washington, D.C., to provide a comprehensive solution for the VA.
Charlotte-based architecture firm RPA Design is the architect-of-record working for Childress Klein Cambridge. Also working for the developer is general contractor J.E. Dunn Construction Co.’s Charlotte office. The Health Care Center is being designed with energy efficiency and environmental sustainability to achieve LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Valued at more than $150 million upon completion, the project represents a major investment and job creator for Charlotte. Upon possession, VA will pay an annual rent of $11.3 million for the 20-year contract.