The city's new clinic will be positioned at the intersection of Interstate 20 and Campus Drive, south of the Downtown. The existing clinic at 300 W. Rosedale St. not only has outdated quarters, but has long been strapped on space as well, according to previously published accounts by local media. The two-story build-to-suit is slated for occupancy on Veterans Day 2010.

Edward J. Woods Jr., development manager for the Indianapolis-based Duke, tells GlobeSt.com that the build-to-suit has been secured by a 20-year lease at a closely guarded fixed rate, with Duke having oversight for the building's operations and exterior upkeep and the VA assuming custodial responsibility. "This is a great service for us to be providing to the VA and the vets of our country," he adds.

Austin-based Page Southerland Page and F&S Partners Inc. of Dallas designed the clinic, which will include surgical and recovery rooms with an energy monitoring system to ensure it meets the federal government's design excellence mandate. Woods says the clinic's design isn't required to be LEED certified, but it is going to include many LEED Silver features. Duke Construction's local team is the general contractor.