Ribbon Cutting Ceremony signals completion of the Corps’ Fort Hood replacement hospital project

Photo By Randy Cephus | A bronze statue greeting visitors as they enter the doors of the new medical facility at Fort Hood, Texas.  

FORT WORTH, TX, UNITED STATES

06.21.2016

Story by Randy Cephus 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District

The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers participated in a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Fort Hood’s Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, today signaling the completion of a project that began in 2010.

The new 947,000 square-foot medical center opened for patient care on April 3, with activities taking place at both the old and new facility. It is nearly 60 percent larger than the previous facility and includes a six-story hospital, three outpatient clinic buildings and three parking garages.

“The cooperation and coordination among the military agencies such as the Fort Hood Department of Public Works, the Health Facilities Planning Agency and the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center staff demonstrates the strength of the Army partnership across the Medical Command, Installation Management Command and the Army Corps of Engineers,” said Fort Worth District commander, Col. Calvin C. Hudson, II.

This $561million project is the largest Department of Defense contract funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It was also the first Army medical center to use the Design-Build method.

“Through constant and continuous collaboration, we were able to work through issues and end up with a product that meets the needs of both patient and staff and has the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of medicine,” added Hudson.

Carl R. Darnall hospital opened nearly fifty-one years ago to support Fort Hood’s then 17,000 Soldiers. This facility replaced the World War II-era clinic type facility, which were one-story buildings joined together by covered walkways. Today, the facility serves more than 100,000 enrolled beneficiaries within a 40-mile radius.

“It is truly a rewarding experience for the entire U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be able to support our military family – the Soldiers, their families and our retirees,” Hudson said.

• Date Taken: 06.21.2016
• Date Posted: 06.21.2016 15:57
• Story ID: 201963
• Location: FORT WORTH, TX, US