Fate of current site unclear
BUTLER TWP — The VA Butler Healthcare's new Health Care Center still is on track to be done by July 2017, but it will likely be much longer before VA officials figure out what will be done with the system's current main building on its New Castle Road campus.
“Bear with me on that,” said David Cord, system director. “It is a very slow-moving process.”
Cord said the VA Butler Healthcare's new center on Duffy Road in Center Township is on target to open in late summer next year, but the process of determining what will ultimately happen with its current main facility — known as Building One — will likely take 18 months to two years.
Cord said that the process includes a historical review, a process in which the VA solicits interest from other federal agencies, and an “enhanced use” lease agreement process that tests the interest from private businesses.
Whatever does happen to Building One, Cord said, it won't change the fact that the VA system will continue to manage the New Castle Road campus and operate the other buildings at the site.
“We'll be running both campuses,” he said.
Cord's comments came in response to questions Thursday night from residents at the VA's quarterly town hall meeting to share information on the new health center.
He said the building's steel work, concrete work, main mechanical elements, and main water line all have been completed.
Currently in process is work on the building's insulation, roofing, framing, brick, and lights and utility hookups.
Still to come, Cord said, are improvements to Duffy Road, paving and landscaping work on site, interior painting work, and the first phase of the center's therapy pool installation.
The only major change to the building plan, Cord said, came regarding the Women's Clinic. He said the VA fielded questions from a group of female veterans regarding the clinic's location at the rear of the building. The VA subsequently altered the plans to include a secure rear entrance, Cord said, as well as special parking for the women's facility.
He called the alterations an example of how community outreach could enrich the project as building work continues.“We heard what the concerns were, addressed the problem and got a solution,” Cord said.With outpatient and specialty services set to move to the health center immediately after it opens in late 2017, Cord said, he still anticipates no disruption in clinic hours or visits as a result of the move. That means the VA will have to be prepared to move equipment and furnishings out of Building One and into the new building in over one weekend next year.Cord believes the system can make the switchover on time.The new building will be 168,000 square feet and cost $160 million over its 20-year lease. It is being built by Cambridge Healthcare Solutions.The ceremonial part of the process — officially naming the building and holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony — likely will take place the week before the health center is actually operational, Cord said. The system plans to invite senior VA officials to the ceremonies.Cord said he expects a bill introduced in June by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, naming the building for the late World War II veteran Abie Abraham would smoothly pass in the Senate after being unanimously approved by the U.S. House of Representatives a few weeks ago.
