SSOE is providing architectural and engineering services to the Veterans Administration (VA) Ann Arbor Health Care System for design of a new Clinical and Administrative Building replacing the existing 1949 Building 4. The new 3-story building was designed to blend with the existing campus architecture and meet all federal VA standards. The structure will house the employee health, human resources, business office, prosthetics, and finance departments.

Services provided by SSOE include: civil, structural, architectural, interior design, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, information technology, and fire protection. Programming was completed with VA engineering and end users to determine how the new facility will meet all department requirements. Shared spaces include conference rooms, a large employee break room, and lobby spaces. The new structure provides for natural light penetrating the open floor plan, a visual interior with large expanses of exterior glazing, and a banded brick exterior to accentuate the horizontal lines of the structure. SSOE’s project scope included an asbestos survey, lead assessment, and examination of the existing site prior to demolition.

SSOE provided all site work, utility connections, communication wiring and connections, as well as handled any disruptions to the existing systems for the new structure. Existing utilities and connections on campus were field investigated for re-use and connection with the new building. Other items considered in the building design were personnel approaches, sidewalks, green areas, visual impacts, parking impacts, and landscaping.