U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Lubbock Outpatient Clinic
Lubbock, Texas
Award
OWNER:Lubbock VA LLC
LEAD DESIGN FIRM:Hoefer Welker Architects
GENERAL CONTRACTOR:Jacobsen Construction Co.
CIVIL ENGINEER:Hugo Reed and Associates Inc.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER:Bob D. Campbell and Co.
MEP ENGINEER:Smith & Boucher Inc.
SUBCONTRACTORS:A Plus Openings; A-1 Building Supply; Alamo Steel; American Direct; American Fence Co.; Andreola Terrazzo; Anson Hargrove & Associates; Arjo Inc.; Armstrong Plumbing; AVA Dek; B Double K Inc.; Budget Blinds of Lubbock; Collins Tile; Commercial Fireproofing; D&L Masonry; Diversified Interiors; Duo-Gard; E&E Irrigation; Hoj Engineering; Horizon Glass; Hugo Reed and Associates; JC Millwork; M&US Concrete; National Shielding; Otis Elevator Co.; Peterson Contractors; Rocky Duron and Associates; Roof’s Inc.; Seal-Co Inc.; Stryker; Temple Electric; Terracon; Unistrut; Utility Contractors of America; V-Tech; Wellborn Sign Co.; Yates Flooring; Zahn Paving
The COVID-19 pandemic escalated as contractors were midway through constructing the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Lubbock Outpatient Clinic.
This 127,000-sq-ft medical facility will serve 300,000 veterans in West Texas. The two-story clinic is more than three times larger than the facility it replaces and offers a physical therapy and occupational therapy area six times larger than the previous clinic. It also adds ophthalmology capabilities as well as a dental department.
An aggressive approach to COVID-19 protocols and other safety measures resulted in the project’s completion with zero recordable incidents or lost-time accidents, even after more than 19,000 worker hours on the job.
Project leadership sought the latest COVID-19 safety guidelines from local state and federal health authorities, and the project team placed as much emphasis on protecting each other from COVID-19 as they did in keeping each other safe from other jobsite risks.
![Outpatient Clinic](http://www.pjbjkak.com/ext/resources/Issues/TXLA/November/Jacobsen-Construction-Company-10.jpg)
Photo by Bob Greenspan
The team laid out safety expectations from the outset of the project, and workers were required to complete a project-specific orientation training that outlined all anticipated risks and mitigation strategies. Teams also had to attend weekly safety meetings, and workers were required to complete a task plan risk analysis every time they switched tasks throughout the day.