Rehabilitation Center Starts to Take Shape

Photo: A view of the structural beam 3 story wing of the new Rehabilitation Center

Construction crews of the new Polytrauma and Blind Rehabilitation Center are well on their way to completing installation of the structural beam placement for the new building.  The new center will overlap the original WBRC footprint on the Palo Alto VAPAHCS campus.  This will be the VA's first and only Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center to be combined with a Blind Rehabilitation Center. 
 

Photo: A construction worker waits as 5 structural beams are lifted by a crane

At 174,000 square feet, this new facility is the largest consolidated rehabilitation center in the VA.  The Rehabilitation Center includes 24 beds for the polytrauma program, 32 beds for the blind rehabilitation program, and 12 beds for the polytrauma transitional rehabilitation program.

Photo: A construction worker welds a beam into place

The last beam is expected to be placed on March 11th, 2013 during a "Topping Out" Ceremony at 1 PM.  In building construction, “topping out” is a ceremony held when the last beam is placed at the top of a building or when the actual structure is complete. 

Photo: The sun shines from behind the 3 story structure

Construction is anticipated to complete in late 2014 with the building becoming operational in January 2015.  

CLICK HERE to learn more about the "Topping Out" Ceremony
 
CLICK HERE to view additional construction pictures

CLICK HERE for construction updates

CLICK HERE to read the project's news release