VA Medical Center Interior Renovation

SSOE is providing multi-disciplinary design services to the four Veteran Affairs (VA) medical centers in Michigan as part of an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The renovation of the second floor of Building 83 is one project from the IDIQ, on the VA Battle Creek campus.

This project focused on the renovation of 18,170 SF of space in the Nursing Home Care Unit (NHCU). The existing space contained large, multi-bed dorm rooms which were reconfigured to private bedrooms and bathrooms in compliance with current VA design criteria. A portion of the rooms were designed to accommodate bariatric residents and other specialized needs.

The entire interior of the second floor was demolished to provide a floor plan that would meet the current and future needs of the residents and staff. The secondary electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and medical gas systems were upgraded and replaced. All items were required to be coordinated with the previously renovated first floor plan and systems.

In addition to privacy, patient safety and security was critical to the success of this project. SSOE’s design services included nurse call systems, upgrades to the building fire alarm systems, wireless network design for improved coverage, IP security camera additions, and Network Video Recorder (NVR) storage expansion to provide adequate video storage.

The future residents of the facility and their care was the leading factor in the design. New nursing stations were created at the center of each patient care area to allow for better patient observation. Open dining and family rooms for visitors, a large dayroom for activities, and bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms are also examples of patient focused care. All of the finishes and space planning focused on eliminating the existing institutional feeling and providing for a welcoming and residential aesthetic.