Omaha VA Medical Center Features a Ribbon Wall That Mimics the Honor Bars Earned by Veterans

Interior Design Inspiration can come from anywhere. In this case, the idea to create a ribbon wall at Omaha VA Medical Center reminds everyone, whether you’re a patient, a visitor, or even a provider, of the veteran and the honor and respect that they’re due.

Healthcare Design Magazine recently featured Omaha VA Ambulatory Care Center located in Omaha, Nebraska. The project not only represents a new outpatient facility for the VA but also marks the first public-private partnership-funded VA healthcare facility in the nation to be delivered since Congress passed the Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed (CHIP IN) for Veterans Act of 2016. (Source) The article is summarized below. Read the full version

Symbolic Design Reflects Dignity and Respect

The outpatient facility was designed to create a patient-centered experience for veterans that clearly reflects dignity and respect. The veteran centric design theme of sacrifice, freedom, duty , and honor led to three signature design elements for the facility.

• The Glass Curtain Wall, rising 50 feet high and spanning 235 feet wide to represent the American flag rippling in the wind.
• The Ribbon Wall, shown above that connects the two facilities.
• The limestone wall running along the continuous plane used to represent the layers of dirt that veterans have tracked back on their boots following their service.

Memorable Moments

All parties involved agree that it was the level of collaboration, instilled early on and continued for the duration of the project, that proved to be most beneficial to the Omaha VA Ambulatory Care Center. Proof can be found at the project’s end, when representatives of the local VA presented the donor group with a gift of a bald eagle sculpture that was placed in the healing garden. Read the original article

Project Details

• Project name: Omaha VA Ambulatory Care Center
• Project completion date: Aug. 4, 2020
• Owner: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Total building area: 157,000 sq. ft.
• Total construction cost:  $67.3 million
• Cost/sq. ft.: $429
• Architecture: Leo A Daly
• Interior design: Leo A Daly
• General contractor: McCarthy Building Companies Inc.
• Engineering: Leo A Daly
• Builder: McCarthy Building Companies Inc.
• Carpet/flooring: Johnsonite, Teknoflor, Patcraft, Atlas, Mohawk
• Ceiling/wall systems: USG, Rulon International Inc., Johnsonite, Koroseal Arbor Wood, Sherwin Williams, Tnemec
• Doors/locks/hardware: AD Systems, VT Industries Best, Glynn-Johnson, LCN, Assa Abloy, phi Precision, Stanley, Trimco
• Furniture—seating/casegoods: Steelcase, Herman Miller solutions
• Handrails/wall guards: C/S Acrovyn
• Lighting: Acuity Brands Lighting, Focal Point
• Signage/wayfinding: ASI
• Surfaces—solid/other: List Terrazzo, Stonhard, Laminart, Crossville, Atlas Concorde USA, Ceasar USA
• Casework fabricator: Designer Woods
• Exterior materials/finishes: US Stone, AWS, Metal Specialty Systems, Inc.
• Other: Enterprise Precast Concrete (Precast MFG); M&M Steel Erection (Custom Glass and Steel Canopy, Steel Installation); AWS (Custom Glass and Steel Canopy, Glass Installation), Keystone Glass Company (Exterior Glass Railings)

Source:

Joann Plockova. “Projects.” HCD Magazine Dignified Design Comments, Apr. 2021, healthcaredesignmagazine.com/projects/dignified-design/#slide-3.

Marie Wikoff is the creator of Wikoff Design Studio based out of Reno, Nevada. Her expertise in healthcare design has helped modernize healthcare organizations locally, regionally, and internationally, improving patient experience and outcomes. Her credentials include Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC), American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID), the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and LEED AP. Contact Marie Wikoff