US Dept of veteran affairs
COMPLETED PROJECTS
VA Western Branch Clinic
status: Complete
When Design Demands Precision, the Field Has to Deliver
The VA Western Branch Clinic in Chesapeake, VA is a 196,000 SF ground-up healthcare facility built to serve more than 28,000 veterans annually across the Hampton Roads region.
Designed for performance and longevity, this building’s envelope needed to do more than look good. It had to match architectural intent down to the detail and adapt in the field without compromising that vision.
From Drawing to Delivery
On every job, there’s a gap between what’s drawn and what’s built. Shop drawings, fabrication specs, and field conditions don’t always align the way they’re supposed to.
As John Huffer put it in one of our recent production meetings,
“What the architect draws, what gets submitted, and what the manufacturer produces all of it has to match. That’s the job.”
And that’s the kind of job Construction Ahead USA is built for.
Scope and Systems
We were brought in to execute the exterior metal cladding systems, including:
Installation Areas
Public entry volumes
Fascia bands and canopy soffits
Vertical transitions and feature walls
As field-built conditions shifted, our team worked directly with the GC, design team, and fabricators to resolve issues quickly, realign details, and keep installation clean and consistent.
What Made This Job Stand Out?
Zinc. And What It Requires.
Rheinzink isn’t just about appearance it’s about performance over time.
When exposed to air and moisture, zinc develops a protective layer of zinc carbonate, forming a natural patina that strengthens the material and deepens its aesthetic. The more it ages, the better it performs and the better it looks.
But that performance depends on how it’s installed. Zinc is unforgiving. The layout has to flow. Panel transitions have to be precise. Surface conditions have to be respected from day one.
“Zinc doesn’t fade or fail, it evolves.
When installed properly, it protects itself, and the building, for decades.”
— MetalTech Global – Is Zinc Good for Cladding?
When you install zinc, there’s no hiding behind caulk or compromise. That’s what made this scope worth doing right and worth highlighting.
Built for Those Who’ve Served
This facility isn’t just another government building. It’s a space built for veterans. That comes with expectations from the public, from the design team, and from the people who walk through those doors every day.
We’re proud to say the results reflect that purpose. From shop to site, the team delivered.
