After more than six years of intricate and comprehensive planning, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital (FBCH) was officially dedicated on Friday, October 28, 2011 by the Department of Defense in an event that included patients, staff, dignitaries and more.
At more than 1.2 million square feet and nearly triple the size of its predecessor, FBCH is one of the largest hospitals in the Department of Defense network. With sustainable design features, state-of-the-art medical equipment, and innovative patient care initiatives, the new community hospital will serve as the new model for modern military healthcare.
Due to fixed operational date deadlines imposed by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) law, time became the impetus for the construction team, leading to a new delivery model called Integrated Design Bid Build (IDBB). IDBB allowed construction—led by a joint venture of Turner Construction and Gilbane Building Company—to start while design was still being developed, turning what would typically be an eight-to-10-year process into a five-year project.
Using evidence-based design to create a therapeutic, family-centered, and efficient space, the architectural team of HDR/Dewberry designed and the Turner Gilbane Joint Venture constructed a world-class facility for delivering healthcare within the armed forces. All aspects of the hospital have been designed with the intent of improving patient outcomes.
FBCH includes sustainable features throughout and meets Energy Policy Act requirements, with energy reduction through lighting, lighting controls, space heating and cooling design, domestic hot water system design, and more. FBCH is expected to achieve a LEED Silver certification and is striving to attain LEED Gold. The hospital will reduce environmental impacts on Fort Belvoir and surrounding communities, fostering conservation and sustainability practices.
