Projects Archive - Awen Solutions Group

VA West Los Angeles PEIS

Client: Department of Veteran’s Affairs

In 2016, the VA developed a Draft Master Plan to guide the redevelopment of the 388-acre West Los Angeles (WLA) Campus with a focus on providing supportive housing for homeless and at-risk veterans. To assist the VA in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Awen developed a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) that analyzed the potential environmental, cultural, socioeconomic and cumulative impacts of the proposed improvements and alternatives for redevelopment for the WLA Campus.

Awen supported the VA in all aspects of NEPA compliance, including scoping, development of in-depth studies on biological resources, traffic, utilities and cultural resources, consultation with federal, state and local agencies, facilitation of public hearings and development of a final record of decision.

VA Medical Center Traffic Study

Client: Department of Veteran’s Affairs

Awen was engaged by the VA to develop a traffic access/flow and parking utilization study to address the demand of La Jolla VA Medical Center (LJVAMC) visitors, patients, and employees during and after construction of a new Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) center and parking garage. Elements of the study included:

Inventory existing LJVAMC parking facilities and parking management

Analyzing current traffic patterns on and around the LJVAMC Campus

Conducting a queueing survey

Conducting a synchronization analysis

Developing recommendations for internal parking and traffic circulation mitigation plans

Mather Master Planning

Client: Department of Veteran’s Affairs

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Northern California Health Care System (NCHCS) is in the process of developing a Master Plan for the Sacramento (Mather) Medical Center campus to facilitate a holistic and unified planning approach for campus organization and right-sizing of services over a 20-year planning horizon. As part of the process of developing the Master Plan, appropriate planning-level programming was completed using the VA Space and Equipment Planning System (SEPS) to determine space requirements for the various existing and future departments and services offered at this location.

Simultaneously, Awen assessed the existing facilities and infrastructure’s condition, capabilities and capacity to evaluate their ability to provide care to their current patient load and to estimate their remaining life cycle. VANCHCS recently acquired adjacent acreage to its east, creating a very long and narrow campus with very dense facilities on the west end, and an equal amount of vacant land to the east. In addition to identifying the optimal desired end-state campus layout for the planning date of 2041, the Mather Master Plan will also provide a feasible, organized and flexible plan for VANCHCS to follow as it incrementally grows and converts from its current state to the desired end state.

VA Palo Alto ACC

Client: Department of Veteran’s Affairs

This project required the Awen team to redesign the previous Ambulatory Care Center to meet the latest PACT Space Module program and design guidelines, and reduce the project building size and construction cost. Awen reorganized the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) outpatient diagnostic and treatment facility from the 317,000 gross square-foot original design to the Awen solution that complies with the SOW program target in a new building with a 286,455 Total Building Gross Square Footage (GSF). Working closely with the VA Palo Alto planning team, Awen prepared three design options for evaluation. These designs utilized and updated the VA PACT Space Module design guidelines for Primary Care Clinics and developed guidelines for the Specialty Clinics. Awen programming and planning solutions are now the prototype for future VA ambulatory facilities.

In addition to setting a new standard for VA facility programming, the Awen team delivered full schematic design floor plans, elevations and conceptual 3D building design studies. Awen met all VA delivery requirements for this project and delivered all work products within the allocated funding.

VA Boise Telehealth

Client: Department of Veteran’s Affairs

The BVAMC Telehealth Hub serves as the flagship for the design of VA’s next generation of telemedicine and collaborative workspaces, a creative reimagining of the future of healthcare.

The Awen team was tasked to provide full space programming and user group meetings, all A/E design submissions, cost estimates (with options), a CFM TIL compliant Revit/BIM, and support the physical security reviews. Awen’s efforts provided the VA with a detailed construction document package for a 15,000 square-foot second story, an addition to the existing one-story office building occupied by the Boise Reginal Veterans Benefit Office (VBA).

The Awen design accounts for phasing and project sequencing to allow for the active use of the VBA first floor area during construction. For this project, Awen was the Architect of Record (AOR), provided NCIDQ Interior Designers and developed all cost estimates and specifications. With a budget of $8.5 million, construction is expected to begin late 2020.

VA Palo Alto Cath Lab

Client: Department of Veteran’s Affairs

As a result of Awen’s excellent work across the VA Palo Alto campus, the Awen team was asked to rescue a stalled project and shepherd it through construction. The Cath Lab Suite upgrade had already been partially constructed when work stopped. Awen was tasked with evaluating the existing plans, assessing the partially constructed, and developing new Construction Documentation to successfully see the project to completion.

The Awen team improved the plans, working with VA medical professionals to establish better workflow, and brought them up to current codes while implementing best practices developed by our experienced medical planners and healthcare architects. Awen thoroughly documented the existing conditions, including LiDAR scanning the half-built space to develop precise 3D models of the partially complete construction, to establish a reliable base upon which to complete our upgraded designs without unnecessary demolition and construction. In coordination with VA staff, the Awen team also evaluated equipment needs, keeping under budget by utilizing existing resources, but always putting the patients’ care first. Healthcare providers trust Awen to get the job done, knowing that our comprehensive approach to design and commitment on delivering real solutions can overcome even the most challenging problems.

Palo Alto Cardiac Cath Lab

Client Name: Department of Veterans Affairs

The Awen Team is currently working to provide construction documents for a partially constructed Cath Lab Suite and Hybrid OR located on the second, third, and fourth floors of Building 100. These documents will identify which areas have completed construction and outline the remaining construction work necessary to complete the project.

Furthermore, a survey will be conducted to identify any necessary medical equipment that has not yet been installed. All of these efforts will then culminate in a construction cost estimate to complete the project. Upon completion Awen will assist in providing construction period services as a part of the contract.

Martinez Building 19

Client Name: Department of Veterans Affairs

The VA requires a skilled SDVOSB to provide comprehensive A/E design and construction document development services for the VA Martinez campus’ Building 19 for a vacant space left by the Hematology/Oncology and Pharmacy’s move to a new space. As a result, the Awen Team was contracted to carry out the VA Martinez campus’ goal to renovate this existing space and allow for expansion of specialty care services to serve our nation’s veterans.

To accomplish this task, we are developing floor plans and potential design options for the remodel; once a final design option has been chosen, we will provide full design services and cost estimates for the renovation. Additionally, we are providing professional support services that are required to ensure compliance with additional needs, such as energy efficient design, seismic requirements, and asbestos surveys.

Mather Master Plan

Client: Department of Veteran’s Affairs

VANCHCS, Office of Strategic Planning and Office of Engineering requires professional planning services to prepare a facility Master Plan for the VANCHCS’ Sacramento Medical Center Campus. This master plan will guide the development of two undeveloped sites totaling 25 acres adjacent and near the current campus. This plan will help facilitate the alignment of capital & noncapital efforts and develop programmatic synergistic efficiencies through colocation of services over a 20 year planning horizon.

The master plan will link these initiatives to operational, programmatic, and realignment efforts. The Awen Team is coordinating the following components of this engagement with VANCHCS Facility staff, leveraging the A/E strength of our team across the Project Manager, Healthcare Planners, and teammates to collaborate with VA on a valuable, new Master Plan that will highlight four 5-year incremental progress stages.

West LA Draft Master Plan

Client: Department of Veterans Affairs

The Awen Team is currently supporting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLAHS) in evaluating, finalizing, and implementing the Draft Master Plan (DMP), which is a visionary blueprint defining the redevelopment of their 388-acre West Los Angeles (WLA) Campus in Los Angeles, California. We provided expert consultation and services in the areas of:

Program/Project Management
Space Utilization and Planning Analysis
Land Use Oversight and Management
Strategic Communications
Business Support Services