Convert Six Historic Warehouse Buildings into VA Hospital Administrative Office Space

Department of Veterans Affairs

VISN 17, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center

Temple, TX

Ground view of a six-building administrative office complex built for the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center. The $19.1 million, 71,228-sq.-ft. complex is connected via a covered corridor.

Romanyk Consulting Corp. (RCC) provided architectural and engineering design services to prepare complete contract drawings, specifications, technical reports, and cost estimates, including construction period services, to convert six historic warehouses into a $19.1 million, two-story, 71,228-sq.-ft. administrative office complex at Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center in Temple, TX.

The complex consists of six buildings connected via a covered corridor. The project was divided into six phases split under six task order contracts. RCC conducted a thorough on-site inspection of building systems prior to the start of design, and conducted multiple stakeholder interviews. The renovation of the 1940s era structures included the design of a new separate HVAC systems and integration with existing Johnson Metasys Control system and new AHU units, a new electrical system and data cabling, a new fire alarm system and access control, and extensive hazardous material identification and abatement of lead and asbestos.

Renovated Warehouses Converted to Administrative Offices

44W—Hospital Administration • The first floor includes a reception area, three private offices, two conference rooms, 23 workstations, break room, men’s and women’s restrooms, as well as HAC, electrical, IT, and telecom closets, and elevator lobby. The second floor has three private offices, open office space with 10 workstations, small conference room, and restrooms.

44E—Engineering Department • The first floor includes modular furniture workstation space, Super PPM office, break room, forms room, conference room, restrooms, storage closet, as well as electrical, HAC and fire riser closets. The second floor has offices for the Chief Engineer, Assistant Chief Engineer, additional open office area for modular furniture workstations, break area, additional file room, rest rooms, copy area and storage.

45W—Accounting, Payroll, Travel Departments • The first floor (6,248 SF) has six private offices, open office space for executive assistants and other accounting/payroll staff, conference room, large storage area, copy room, break room, men’s and women’s restrooms, vending area as well as HAC, electrical, IT, and telecom closets, and elevator lobby. The second floor (4,466 SF) has three offices and open office space with 13 workstations.

45E—Laundry & Support Services • The first floor (6,170 SF) is dedicated to laundry operations. It has space for scrubs, uniforms, patent personal item storage, a sewing room, a break room, linen storage, a conference room, a laundry supervisor office, men’s and women’s restrooms, clean linens receiving, wash/dry room, soiled linen holding, soiled carts, and storage. The second floor (3,570 SF) has a reception area, men’s and women’s restrooms, a break room, large open-space training area as well as offices for the pest controller, environmental care specialist, program assistant, asst. chief, and chief.

46W—Hospital Administration • The first floor includes a reception area, two private offices, three training rooms, 10 workstations, vending area, men’s and women’s restrooms, storage rooms, as well as HAC, electrical, IT, and telecom closets, and elevator lobby. The second floor has seven private offices, workroom, break room, and restrooms.

47—Police Operations and Graphics Department • Police Operations (47E) The first floor includes a lobby/reception area, public restrooms, four private offices, conference room, break room, men’s and women’s locker rooms, gun cleaning, gun storage, evidence storage, and general storage. The second floor has four additional offices as well as a large flex-space area for police training. Graphics Department (47W) The first floor includes a reception area, restrooms, conference/break room, six offices, a video editing lab, photo studio and storage. The second floor has five additional offices and a large open office area for flexible use.

Project Challenges

Several support services were housed in old, deteriorating portable modular buildings that require continuous maintenance to remain serviceable. Issues within the modular buildings ranged from electrical and plumbing problems to persistent roof leaks to poor ventilation. For this reason, the RCC team focused on developing a design renovation plan to create a permanent, well-lit, well-ventilated structure.

Waste Reduction / Use of Recovered Materials

RCC applied LEED/sustainability strategies. For example RCC reduced construction waste by using recovered materials. The design incorporated wood frame members in an exposed ceiling concept. Universal Waste such as light bulbs and tubes were incorporated into specification requirements for the general contractor to be responsible for various items that will require special handling and disposal due to their composition.

This project included:

• Design of a new separate HVAC systems and integration with existing Johnson Metasys Control system and new AHU units.

• Complete new electrical system and data cabling

• New fire alarm system and access control

• Hazardous Material Abatement, Lead, and Asbestos Mitigation

• Thorough on-site inspection of building systems.