The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has selected Gresham Smith to design a new outpatient clinic that will expand care for veterans in Lakeland, Florida. The firm will partner with The Molasky Group of Companies, developer and leader of the Design-Build project, and general contractor The Korte Company.
The new veteran’s clinic aims to expand access to high-quality healthcare for veterans in Polk and Hillsborough counties, and will consolidate and expand the VA’s present facilities in Lakeland. At 132,000 gross square feet — five times bigger than the existing clinic space — the outpatient facility will house primary care, audiology and speech pathology, physical therapy, mental health, ophthalmology and prosthetic and sensory aid services. The clinic will also feature a lab and pharmacy, as well as CT, X-Ray, mammography, MRI and ultrasound technologies.
Sitting on 26 acres, the site will include a healing garden and alfresco dining to connect visitors to nature, while a staff patio and balconies will provide fresh air and respite. To bring the outdoors in, expanses of glazing on the clinic’s exterior will flood the public corridors with natural light, while strategic wayfinding elements will ease visual and physical access.
The interior palette will reflect Florida’s natural habitat, using cool earth tones, natural stone and wood elements to create connections to nature and the surrounding community. Within each clinic, patient care spaces are arranged around a central staff area, which will create operational efficiencies, encourage collaboration and enhance the patient experience.
The project is anticipated to be complete in late 2023.
