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Senior leaders meet, discuss VA hospital construction progress

Published Feb. 17, 2016
The Wheeling Street and E. 17th place intersection opened to traffic on January 31, as construction progresses on the Replacement Medical Center for the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Aurora, Colorado.

The Wheeling Street and E. 17th place intersection opened to traffic on January 31, as construction progresses on the Replacement Medical Center for the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Aurora, Colorado.

Senior level leaders from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Kiewit-Turner joint venture held their first progress review meeting February 11, on the Replacement Medical Center for the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Aurora, Colorado.
Left to right:Robert Michaels, Chief Construction Division, USACE, Omaha; Dr. James Hearn, SES, Director of Regional Business, USACE, NWD; Rich Homan, Executive Vice President, Turner Construction; Dennis Milsten, Director of Facilities Projects, DVA CFM; Joe Laird, Program Manager, USACE, NWD; Col. John Henderson, District Commander USACE, Omaha; Andrea Rodríguez, Program Manager, USACE Omaha; Joe Lempka, President, Kiewit Building Group; Scott Cassels, President, Kiewit Infrastructure Group; Mike Bruskin, VP & Procurement Director, Turner Construction; Peter Davoren, Chairman, CEO and President, Turner Construction; David Duffy, VP & Construction Executive, Turner Construction; Hon. Sloan Gibson, Deputy Secretary VA; Lloyd Caldwell, SES, Director of Military Programs, USACE HQ; Pete Sturdivant, Sr Resident Engineer, USACE Omaha; Chris Jahrling, VP & General Manger, Turner Construction; Ray Alexander, SES, Chief IIS Division, USACE HQ; Ted Streckfuss, Deputy Engineer, USACE Omaha District; Doug Hadley, Chief Environmental Contracting Branch, USACE Omaha; Kevin Lindsey, Project Executive, DVA CFM

Senior level leaders from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Kiewit-Turner joint venture held their first progress review meeting February 11, on the Replacement Medical Center for the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Aurora, Colorado. Left to right:Robert Michaels, Chief Construction Division, USACE, Omaha; Dr. James Hearn, SES, Director of Regional Business, USACE, NWD; Rich Homan, Executive Vice President, Turner Construction; Dennis Milsten, Director of Facilities Projects, DVA CFM; Joe Laird, Program Manager, USACE, NWD; Col. John Henderson, District Commander USACE, Omaha; Andrea Rodríguez, Program Manager, USACE Omaha; Joe Lempka, President, Kiewit Building Group; Scott Cassels, President, Kiewit Infrastructure Group; Mike Bruskin, VP & Procurement Director, Turner Construction; Peter Davoren, Chairman, CEO and President, Turner Construction; David Duffy, VP & Construction Executive, Turner Construction; Hon. Sloan Gibson, Deputy Secretary VA; Lloyd Caldwell, SES, Director of Military Programs, USACE HQ; Pete Sturdivant, Sr Resident Engineer, USACE Omaha; Chris Jahrling, VP & General Manger, Turner Construction; Ray Alexander, SES, Chief IIS Division, USACE HQ; Ted Streckfuss, Deputy Engineer, USACE Omaha District; Doug Hadley, Chief Environmental Contracting Branch, USACE Omaha; Kevin Lindsey, Project Executive, DVA CFM

AURORA, CO – A senior level progress review for the Replacement Medical Center for the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Aurora, Colorado, was held February 11.

The Senior Executive Review Group consists of senior leaders from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Kiewit-Turner joint venture, who meet regularly to collaboratively resolve overarching issues and maintain a focus on the project’s budget and schedule. 

Among those in attendance included Sloan Gibson, Deputy Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs; Scott Cassels, Executive Vice President Kiewit Corporation; Peter Davoren, President of Turner Construction Company; Lloyd Caldwell, USACE Director of Military Programs, and Ray Alexander, USACE Director of International and Interagency Programs. 

In July 2015, an Interagency Agreement with the VA authorized USACE to provide project management, construction management, engineering services, and other support to the VA. Along with ongoing support to the VA on their National Cemetery and Veterans Integrated Service Network projects, VA has also agreed to have USACE serve as their construction agent on ten major medical facilities. 

In late October 2015, a $570 million fixed price-incentive contract was awarded to Kiewit-Turner, a joint venture, to continue constructing the Replacement Medical Center for the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Aurora, Colorado. The project is scheduled for construction completion in early 2018. This is the first major project under the new agreement making this the first senior executive project review conducted by USACE with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

Recent project milestones achieved by Kiewit-Turner include opening the Wheeling Street and E. 17th Place intersection, and opening Wheeling Street and E. 17th place to traffic. In the Diagnostic and Treatment facility, the Dental operation room mock-up is complete; the framing and drywall activities are nearing completion on the Clinic Building Center; and rough-ins have begun for the Level 1 spinal cord injury therapy pool at the Inpatient Building North. The new medical center is 60 percent complete overall.
The USACE, Omaha District has a very experienced team of nearly 40 employees on-site who are dedicated to the project and its success. “The United States Army Corps of Engineers is completely committed to the success of this project for our Veterans and for those who serve them. We are pleased with how work is progressing and the level of collaboration between our respective teammates from the VA and Kiewit-Turner,” said Col. John Henderson, Omaha District Commander. 

"The Department of Veterans Affairs remains committed to completing the construction of the Denver replacement hospital to serve the 390,000 Veterans and their families in the Colorado area," said Gibson. "We are grateful to have partners like the Army Corps of Engineers and Kiewit-Turner, who share that commitment in this endeavor."

“Kiewit-Turner appreciates the continued engagement of senior executives from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Their involvement is critical to the successful completion of this important project for Colorado-area Veterans,” said Cassels.

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a wide variety of programs and services for the nation's 22 million veterans and continues to emphasize three long-term goals: increasing access to VA benefits and services, reducing the claims backlog, and eliminating veterans' homelessness. In addition, VA has placed renewed emphasis on rebuilding trust with America's veterans, improving service delivery, and transforming the agency to empower veterans to more easily navigate VA and access their earned care and benefits.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, is committed to working together to support the needs of America’s veterans. Through these types of whole-of-government partnerships, unique authorities, and integrated civil-military capabilities, USACE has provided value to the Nation and the international community for nearly 240 years.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a globally-recognized leader in military and civil engineering and science, supporting diplomacy, defense, and development.


Contact
Eileen Williamson
402-995-2417
eileen.l.williamson@usace.army.mil
or
Elaine Buehler, Veterans Affairs

Release no. 20160217-001