History was made on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2021, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, and the Department of Veterans Affairs broke ground on the much-anticipated Louisville VA Medical Center.
The new 104 bed, full-service hospital located on Brownsboro Road in Louisville, Kentucky, will provide world-class healthcare for more than 45,000 Veterans in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
Dignitaries including Sen. Mitch McConnell, Rep. John Yarmuth, Gov. Andy Beshear and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer gathered to celebrate the project, which has been more than a decade in the making.
"While no government program can fully repay the great debt we owe, by breaking ground on this project today, we're taking a meaningful step toward fulfilling our sacred obligation to our nation's heroes," McConnell said.
“It will soon provide the revolutionary twenty-first century care that our nation’s heroes deserve.”
The new hospital will integrate modern patient-centered care concepts to provide the best possible care for Veterans. In addition, to specifically address the needs of women Veterans, the new hospital will include a Women’s Health Clinic with 4 Patient Aligned Care Teams.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is honored to be here working alongside our partners to help bring this much-deserved, state-of-the art facility to fruition for our nation’s Veterans,” said Col. Kimberly Peeples, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division.
The $840 million project designed by SmithGroup will be constructed by Walsh-Turner Joint Venture II, Chicago, Illinois.
“We know just how much our Veterans are counting on us, said Michael Whelan, President of Walsh Construction. “The men and women who will build this facility are ready to start.”
“Our team will deliver the highest standards of safety and quality as this is part of our mission,” said Whelan. We will work hand in hand with all stakeholders to deliver the project on time and in budget.”
The project includes construction of a new 910,115 square foot medical center, parking structures, a 42,205 square foot central utility plant, roadways, sidewalks, and other site improvements.
"In the Corps of Engineers, our definition of winning is to finish quality projects on time, within budget, and safely. That is certainly what we intend to do here," said Peeples. “We will not give our nation’s heroes anything less than the very best."
Construction is anticipated to be complete in 2026.
To learn more about the project visit: https://www.louisville.va.gov/newmedicalcenter/