WALSH: VA SIGNS DESIGN CONTRACT FOR SYRACUSE VAMC SPINAL CORD INJURY CENTER ADDITION
Design Work to Begin on $77 Million Project

(Washington D.C.)- Congressman Jim Walsh today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has signed a $2,085,227 design contract with Quinlivan, Pierik & Krause Architects/Engineers of Syracuse to produce construction documents and provide construction period services for the Syracuse VA Medical Center's Spinal Cord Injury Center addition. 

The project's total cost upon completion is expected to reach $77.7 million for the six story hospital addition and related parking facility expansion.

"Six hundred veteran spinal cord injury patients live across New York State and currently have to travel out of state or to New York City for inpatient care," said Walsh.  "This project will elevate the scope and quality of care offered at the Syracuse VA, and its construction will have a significant impact on the local economy."

In FY 2005, Congressman Walsh, as Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for funding all veteran healthcare, included $53.9 million in his annual VA spending package for the project's construction.  A bill - H.R. 5815, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2006 - set for a full House vote later this month is expected to authorize the project's expansion to include additional improvements, including a new parking facility, walkway and elevator.

Scheduled facility improvements to the Syracuse VAMC will focus on the construction of a 30-inpatient bed SCI unit, to be primarily located on the 4th floor of the existing VA Medical Center on Irving Avenue.  Included is the construction of a new six-story, 108,000 square foot addition to the medical center to house a portion of the SCI Center, six new operating rooms, two special procedure rooms, and the relocation and expansion of operating room facilities, and expanded space for specialty outpatient services.

The project is slated to begin construction in early 2007.

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