The Department of Veterans Affairs (Virginia; Birmingham, Alabama) wants to relocate and centralize mental health services from its downtown Birmingham hospital into a new facility, while freeing up space in existing hospitals for other services.

The new 71,000-square-foot Birmingham East VA Clinic, which opened in January, integrates outpatient mental health services, including specialty clinics for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, psychosocial rehabilitation and rehabilitation, and group psychotherapy. Psychiatry, day programs, suicide prevention, family intensive case management, couples and family therapy, telehealth programs, peer support and homelessness programs.

architectural firm Hoverwilk (Leewood, KS) uses evidence-based design principles such as biophilic design, expansive windows that connect with nature, and plenty of daylight and calming colors. The facility’s clinic modules are arranged in separate areas to reduce travel distances for patients and staff, while creating separation between patient care and administrative/support spaces. The overall site plan, functional arrangement, and interior and exterior architectural concepts were developed with the patient experience in mind.

The interior design of the clinic is inspired by nature – specifically the connection to Mount Loughner, Flora Johnston Nature Park and the valley between them. The orientation of the building fills the main public hall with light and creates a comfortable environment. A continuous glass wall enhances wayfinding by maintaining a streamlined path to specific departments. The building’s high-performance glazing and glazing systems provide transparency and connectivity while reducing energy consumption. This glazing allows visitors to easily orient themselves by looking outward, while strategic interior material choices, such as coloured terrazzo, provide visual route-finding cues.

Project details:

Facility Name: East Virginia Clinic Birmingham

Location: Birmingham, Alabama.

Completion date: January 2022

Client: US Federal Properties Co. LLC

Gross Floor Area: 71,000 sq. ft.

Total Construction Cost: Confidential

Cost/square foot: Confidential

Architect: Hoefer Welker

Interior Design: Hoefer Welker

General Contractor: Hoar Construction

Engineering: Sain Associates (Civil Engineer), Bob D. Campbell & Co. (Structural Engineer), Smith & Boucher Inc. (Mechanical Engineer), LAND3 Studio LLC (Landscape Architect), FSC Inc. (Life Safety), Protection Engineering (Blasting engineer)