CENTER TWP — A “topping out” ceremony was held at the new VA Butler Healthcare Center in Center Township in front of an excited crowd this morning.

The final beam, signed by VA employees and construction workers, was put into place, and U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, of Butler was the keynote speaker.

The building along Duffy Road is owned by a private company and leased to the VA for 20 years.

The 168,000-square-foot center is costing $163 million over the lease term.

The center will be a silver LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — two-story building.

It will include primary care, specialty care, mental health, dental, diagnostic, laboratory, pathology, radiology, podiatry, optometry, pharmacy, physical rehabilitation and women's health.

The VA expects to open the facility by the late summer of fall of 2017.

The VA serves 19,000 veterans from four counties.