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'Major Milestone' in Construction Reached at Future Walter Reed

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS101223-08
12/23/2010

By James Johnson, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Construction at the future Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) in Bethesda, Md., reached a milestone Dec. 22, as a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for two buildings that will provide care for military personnel and their families.

"The reason we do this, is because we are trying to create an environment of care, both aesthetically and professionally for the men and women of this country who provide their blood, their sweat and occasionally their tears, in defending us and stepping out in front of everybody else and saying 'nothing will hurt you all, I have the watch,'" said Rear Adm. Matthew Nathan, commander, National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) Bethesda. "Those men and women and their families, both in active service and the legacy they leave as retirees, deserve our best and deserve the best environment of care and deserve the best professionalism and competency of care, and I think this is a down-payment on that promise."

The America Building, a new six-floor outpatient clinic and cancer treatment center, and the Arrowhead Building, an inpatient addition to the hospital, have been completed by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington Office-in-Charge of Construction (OICC) Bethesda.

"This is a major milestone to be sure," said, Capt. Steve Hamer, commanding officer, NAVFAC OICC Bethesda. "This is a key one for us, to be able to have building 'A' (America) already seeing patients and 'B' (Arrowhead) soon to be seeing patients. This is a reflection of a lot of hard work, a lot of dedicated people and a lot of talent."

Construction on the America Building began in July 2008. It will provide facilities for radiation oncology treatment, Cancer Centers of Excellence, an amputee center to include prosthetics and physical and occupational therapy, including a swimming pool, behavioral health for adults, adolescents and children and other outpatient clinics such as orthopedics, dermatology, audiology, allergy/immunology and internal medicine. The 515,000 square foot facility will also house a satellite pharmacy and lab.

The Arrowhead Building, a 162,000 square foot addition to Building 9, began construction in August 2008. It provides expanded space for the emergency department, cardiology, interventional imaging, nuclear medicine and an additional 50 intensive care patient beds. The facility's patient bedrooms are private and each provides natural light and outside air to minimize air recirculation.

"This is a demonstration of the Department's commitment - to taking care of the sons and daughters - to fulfill the covenant that we have with the sons and daughters of America who go to war for us and come back," said Vice Adm. John Mateczun, commander, Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical.

The construction contractor for the two buildings is Clark/Balfour Beatty, a joint venture. They received a $6.4 million award from NAVFAC Washington in March 2008.

Improvements at the site are being made as the result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure law. Some medical services at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., are being relocated to NNMC, Bethesda, establishing it as the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), Bethesda. All work is scheduled for completion in September 2011.