Located northwest of Atlanta, Cobb County is home to more than 40,000 veterans but has only a single, outdated VA clinic. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs moved to correct this situation by constructing several new clinics in the area.
The new one-story, 78,000-square-foot clinic provides primary and women's health care, mental health, audiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, dental, imaging (X-ray), and lab services. The clinic will feature the VA’s Patient Aligned Pact Care Team (PACT) model of care, which centers on patient-driven, proactive, personalized, and team-based care. This veteran-centric model provides integrated care through the collaborative efforts of physicians, nurses, social workers, nutritionists, pharmacists, and whole health coaches.
Inspired by the gently rolling terrain east of Kennesaw Mountain, the clinic is designed to be a landmark with its ceremonial entry and plaza. The light-filled lobby will feature 22-foot glass walls with striking views of the tree-lined landscape. Intuitive wayfinding is integrated through a linear concept that requires less signage to navigate and uses architectural elements such as transparency and materials to reinforce circulation patterns.
Clinic modules were thoughtfully arranged into distinct zones, reducing travel distances for patients and staff and creating an appropriate separation between patient care and administrative and support spaces. Public areas are centrally located and feed directly into the patient care zone. Within the patient zone, similar patient care spaces, such as exam rooms, are grouped in modules that can be reassigned to accommodate changing patient volumes without affecting the overall experience. Support spaces are strategically located to provide convenient access.