A ribbon-cutting celebration and open house was recently held for the new five-story U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Phoenix Outpatient Clinic, located in Arizona. The 280,000-square-foot clinic offers primary care, mental health treatment, radiology services, pharmacy services and more.
Staff work in an open office configuration to enhance collaboration and communication in support of the VA’s Patient-Aligned Care Teams team-based care initiative. The building’s programmatic layout emphasizes the centrality of mental health treatment in veterans’ healthcare, with the second floor dedicated to mental health services.
The design of the clinic is inspired by Arizona’s vibrant color palette, striations, elevations and geological formations. The building integrates with the site to capture mountain views that surround it. Other key design elements include deep fissures carved into the façades and roof of the building, which align with the rugged terrain.
Sun-shading systems are integrated into the façade to manage heat gain and ensure comfort. Dappled light filters through louvered panels into the interior, which mimics shade trees in an oasis. Linear paths and stairs frame the lobby to guide horizontal and vertical circulation and wayfinding. The clinic is also designed to maximize natural daylight and is certified as a Two Green Globes project for meeting sustainability goals.
The project team included Jacobsen Construction Company and Hoefer Welker.
