|
Mid-Atlantic (3) -->
Veterans Affairs Embarks on Expansion Plan to Assist Returning VeteransIn the summer of 2007, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) embarked on an aggressive hiring initiative to address the growing number of claims requests, resulting from the increasing number of veterans returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The VA developed a plan to hire 3,700 new claims processors nationwide to meet the agency’s pressing need. Since all of these new employees require work space, GSA was a ready partner with the VA to meet their needs. Over the past year, Mid-Atlantic PBS began several space renovation and expansion projects designed to improve space utilization, as well as add close to 30,000 square feet to house new VA hires in four existing VA locations. PBS has finished renovations to an existing 8,800 square foot leased facility in Huntington, West Virginia. Completed in March 2008, the space provides 70 new workspaces and accommodates over 50 recently hired VA employees. Upgrades are also being made to the existing IT training room. GSA’s Baltimore Field Office has worked to accommodate 55 new claims processors through renovations of over 7,700 square feet on the 12th floor of the George H. Fallon Federal Building in Maryland. The Field Office was able to execute this project to utilize existing and swing space, allowing the VA to move in new employees incrementally since January 2008. This project is linked to two other VA projects in the building, including another renovation, and an expansion into 3,800 vacant square feet on the Federal Building’s 3rd floor. Newly renovated space at the VA Regional Office and Insurance Center at 5000 Wissahickon Avenue in Philadelphia will accommodate 275 new hires in 8,000 square feet of space currently used for file storage. These files will in turn be relocated into condensed shelving units elsewhere in the building. Also, the renovation of 4,200 square feet for 20 new claims processors in the Richard H. Poff Federal Building in Roanoke, Virginia will be complete later this summer. GSA has worked diligently to meet the VA’s aggressive project timeframe. VA officials are pleased with the commitment GSA has put into its efforts to provide local space for the new hires. “VA is providing the benefits and services that the young men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have earned with their service and sacrifice,” said Leo Phelan, Director of Facilities, Access and Administration for the Veterans Benefits Administration. “The work that GSA is performing directly supports VA in providing those services.” By partnering closely with regional as well as national VA officials, GSA has delivered quality space to the ultimate benefit of our nation’s returning troops. This article appears in the Summer 2008 issue of the FOCUS newsletter. Please visit the current and past issues page to download and read the entire newsletter. To subscribe to FOCUS, complete the online subscription form.
Last Reviewed 7/30/2008
|
|