Services:
Project Management, Planning, Architecture/Interiors, Engineering, Construction Services, Specialty Services (historic rehab)

Partners:
FreemanWhite, Zapata, AME Consulting Engineers

Client:
Department of Veterans Affairs – Charles George VA Medical Center, Asheville, NC

What We Did:

The Atriax Team provided A/E design services for the complete rehabilitation/adaptive reuse of Building 9, on the Charles George VA Medical Center campus. Building 9, constructed in the early 1930’s as a nursing dormitory, has for the past 40+ years set abandoned, leaving the 42,619 sf, 3 floor building exposed to the elements; numerous acts of vandalism and much deterioration on both its interior and exterior materials. Located within an historic district, the team worked closely with the VA staff as well as the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office to provide the VA with a state-of-the-art Mental Health facility while also respecting the historic significance of the building. The newly rehabilitated building will house new mental health staff offices, patient exam and group rooms, support rooms and reception, waiting and restrooms on the first and second floors. Consistent with the PACT requirements, a portion of the third floor will be the new home for the MH/Primary Care Outpatient Services, including staff offices, patient exam rooms, ancillary support spaces as well as separate public waiting and restroom areas.

This project design included investigative services and design for the repair and upgrades to the exterior stucco, existing historic windows, and other interior/exterior building components. Interior work included space planning, phasing plans, cost estimates and associated drawings for new sheetrock walls and wood doors, new flooring, ceilings, electrical and HVAC. Modernizations items include a new passenger elevator, LED lighting, and data and mechanical equipment bringing the 84 year old building up to current VA Guidelines as well as building and energy code requirements. The interior design retains the historic context of the common areas, including an existing fireplace with period moldings, wood doors with hand-lettered room numbers, period lighting in selective areas, wood LVT flooring, transoms over doorways, and architectural moldings. Colors are based on existing elements that will remain such as fireplace surround tile work and slate interior stair treads. As much as possible, the design reused salvageable building items such as retrofitting selective existing light fixtures, refurbishing the interior stair treads and railings, and architectural moldings. Site work includes grading, surface parking, and landscaping.

Once renovated, Building 9 will provide space for the Charles George VAMC Mental Health Department that facilitates a warm and comforting environment for patients and staff, while also addressing the critical issues of workflow efficiencies, sound attenuation for patient privacy – all completed within the historic context requirements and need for state-of-the-art outpatient mental health treatment facilities.

Key Personnel: Henson, Bevins, Murdock, Brigham, Marvin, Blake, Atkinson, Amon, Ruppard, LeGrand, Aiken
Construction Cost: $8,405,000.00

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