San Jose VA Clinic

VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) began operations in San Jose in 1996 in a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), offering primary, specialty, mental health, ancillary and diagnostic services. The original clinic operated within a 65,000-sq.-ft., single-story facility located in south San Jose. VAPAHCS received approval for a new 20-year lease to replace the existing clinic.

The new CBOC features the VA’s Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) design to support a Veteran-centric model of care. PACT’s team-based care design also promotes staff collaboration in a flexible and adaptable concept. The PACT design features state-of-the-art training and patient education spaces, and all clinical areas are wired for ever-evolving telehealth programs. Clinical areas are distributed over three floors and include the following:

• Primary Care
• Mental Health
• Audiology and Speech Pathology
• Podiatry
• Optometry
• Dermatology

The new clinic’s architectural design integrates the existing site with the local architecture, sociocultural context, and surrounding landscape to create an inclusive, healing environment that connects patients, staff and the community. The inspiring site and its surroundings played a significant role in shaping the form and orientation of the building, which is situated to maximize views of Mount Hamilton and the Santa Cruz Mountains from all three floors.

The building’s exterior is wrapped in wood veneer and metal panels with transparent glazing encircled by a pedestrian-friendly landscape, ensuring human connections to the natural environment. To create a strong sense of arrival, the visually distinctive entry features a three-dimensional axis created by the landscape, a memorial plaza and an art wall, which celebrate Veterans and their service.

Key Sustainability Features

• Nominated for an AIA Healthcare Design Award where the ecological impact is a part of the design consideration
• Exterior façade crafted to shade windows and allow daylighting and views without increasing energy use
• Title 24 Energy Code Compliant project (38.1% energy cost savings)
• Medical equipment process water mitigated (35.1% water use reduction)