September 8, 2010

Lakewood, CO– Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) released the following statement for the Veterans Administration’s announcement of the joint venture between Kiewit and Turner as the Integrated Design Contractor for the new VA Medical Center on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora:

“The award of the Integrated Design Contractor to build the new VA Medical Center in Aurora marks a significant milestone for Veterans and their families in Colorado and the region who have waited a long time for a facility they deserve.  I am particularly pleased the VA is committed to working with the Helmets to Hard Hats program to employ as many veterans as possible on the project.  Kiewit and Turner are substantial contractors in Colorado and the West.  I look forward to their good work on behalf of our Veterans and the United States of America. 

Additionally, this will be one of the largest construction projects in Colorado and has already employed 160 people. This is only the beginning, it is also estimated the project will employ up to 10,000 workers over the course of construction and the expanded facility will require 185 more health care related staff,” stated Perlmutter.

The new VA Medical Center will allow the VA to increase its employment from 1,815 employees to 2,000 for a net increase of 185 permanent jobs created. Right now there are 24 architecture, engineering, and supporting firms working on the new medical center and 17 of these are Colorado based.  There are currently 160 local, full time and part time architectural and engineering staff working on this project of which 11 are new full and part time jobs.  At the peak of construction, the VA estimates that there will be up to 1,750 workers on the construction site and approximately 10,000 workers will be employed over the course of construction. The contractor intends to work with the Helmets to Hard Hats organization to employ Veterans on the construction of the project.