The $482.8 million veterans home in Holyoke, Mass., is moving ahead of schedule, Gov. Maura Healey said Nov. 7, as crews placed the final steel beam and equipment hold a closing ceremony.
Commodore | Walsh, a joint venture of Commodore Builders Inc. based in Waltham, Mass. and Boston-based Walsh Brothers Inc. is replacing the 72-year-old Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, which is adjacent to the new building, with a 350,000-square-foot building. ft, eight-story facility designed by Boston-based Payette. Work began last year, and the project was ranked number 5 ENR New England Top Starts 2023.
The home provides long-term care services to military veterans.
meIn 2020, a COVID-19 outbreak at the facility killed at least 76 people, prompting a investigation and settlement of $56 million.
The new, larger home is being built to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ “tiny home model” specifications, dividing the 234-bed facility into smaller communities of 10-14 residents each with l ‘aim to avoid a similar situation, as well as making it feel less institutional for its residents.
The team, working under a project labor agreement, “has not only met, but exceeded state goals for recruiting and hiring workers, including workers of color, women and veterans,” Healey added during a speech.
Substantial completion of the new building is expected in 2026, followed by final completion including restoration of the former Veterans Home site by the summer of 2028.
“Seeing the final steel beam makes me reflect on the work that has been done since we started just 16 months ago,” said Richard Walsh, president and CEO of Walsh Bros.
The work is 28 percent complete, Walsh said. Crews have spent 173,000 man hours putting $112 million worth of work into place to date, including 4,000 tons of steel and 150 geothermal wells. With the complete overhaul, the number of workers at the site each day will increase from about 150 to more than 450 people, he added.
Geothermal wells are for a geothermal heating/cooling system with variable coolant flow. State officials say the facility is designed to meet LEED Gold standards. The design also features a high-efficiency building envelope with triple-glazed windows and building systems made for energy efficiency.
The project, which is owned by the state’s Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, is partially funded by $263.5 million from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
