DETROIT – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, this month awarded the first contract for seven planned projects that will upgrade U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in Michigan and Wisconsin.
The $2.28 million contract award will be used to renovate a vacant wing of a Civil War-era building for the human resources department of the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. This is the first time the Detroit District will supervise construction for the VA.
Nuvo Construction Co., a small business in Milwaukee, was awarded $2,286,330 to completely renovate the 16,000-square-foot wing on the medical center’s campus for the VA Great Lakes Health Care System or Veterans Integrated Service Network 12.
“Providing updated working areas for the human resources department will assist the VA in keeping a fully-staffed operation that directly affects care of veterans,” Patrick Kuhne, the Detroit District’s project manager for the Milwaukee and six other VA projects, said.
“Improved facilities, whether a hospital or administrative building, translates to better and more efficient care to our veterans,” Kuhne added.
Six more VA projects are expected in the future—one more in Milwaukee, two in Detroit and one each in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek and Saginaw, Mich.
“The Detroit District takes great pride in supporting the VA and assisting them in getting their facilities upgraded,” Marilyn Hill, Chief of Contracting, said.
The Milwaukee and other construction projects also should benefit the local economy by having additional workers in the area for the length of the project, Kuhne said. About a total of 30 workers will be needed and between 5 and 10 will be new hires, Nuvo Construction said.
The Milwaukee medical center project is expected to last 230 days as the wing will undergo structural work to repair leaks, windows and roof repairs.
Additionally, new plumbing will be installed, the emergency sprinkler system will be relocated, a new heating and cooling system will be installed, the wing will be rewired, a drop ceiling will be added, the interior will be painted, new carpeting will be laid and new office cubicles will be erected. The work will also include asbestos abatement.
“This is a complete renovation that will involve structural work to accommodate a new office layout,” William Merte, the Detroit District’s Chief of Construction, Cost and General Engineering Branch, said. “We are ready to support the VA in any design and construction project as requested.”
For questions or more details, please contact Lynn Duerod at the Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District Public Affairs Office, at (313) 226-4680.
