The Design-Build team of Clark Construction Group and the SmithGroup + HKS Joint Venture recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the new El Paso VA Health Care Center in Fort Bliss, Texas. The 492,000-square-foot ambulatory care facility will be located on the William Beaumont Army Medical Center campus. It is anticipated to be completed in 2028.
The health center will include 47 departments to augment the campus’s continuum of care from active service at Beaumont Army Medical Center to the future El Paso VA Health Care Center. The project will also include a new central utility plant, stormwater management and parking facilities for the entire Fort Bliss campus, including the adjacent National Intrepid Center of Excellence Fort Bliss satellite facility, anticipated to open later this year. The design inside and out will complement its natural surroundings.
The six-story structure will feature a centralized entry canopy on the building’s northern façade. The new health center is oriented to optimize environmental conservation and protection (solar, thermal, comfort and wind), contributing to a goal of 30% energy reduction over prevailing building codes. Proposed arrays of photovoltaic panels above new parking areas will help to shade vehicles and generate energy onsite. The facility is designed to exceed LEED Silver certification.
