The Korte Company worked closely with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and The Molasky Group of Companies to help meet the growing needs of the more than 23,000 veterans living in the Lakeland, Florida, area.
The 132,000-square-foot facility is five times larger than the existing clinic spaces together and better suited to meet patient needs.
Centrally located within the Lakeland community less than five miles from Lakeland Regional Medical Center, the outpatient clinic includes patient parking at the front of the site, along with a covered drop-off area on the front of the building. The design offers easy access for visitors, while dedicated staff parking and entry on the rear of the building will increase efficiencies.
The clinic’s orientation on the site support visibility from Polk Parkway and Lakeland Highlands Road, enhancing the facility’s presence within the community. Large expanses of glazing and outdoor spaces reinforce the proximity to Holloway Park, which is home to exotic wildlife, a bird sanctuary, as well as native vegetation and trees.
Outdoor seating areas offer veterans and visitors space to enjoy the natural amenities of the Florida landscape. The site includes a healing garden and an exterior canteen area. Staff will have access to a separate, dedicated outdoor space and multiple second-floor balconies.
Inside, the materials palette will reflect Florida’s natural habitat, using cool earth tones, natural stone, and wood elements throughout to emphasize the area’s natural beauty. Additionally, floor-to-ceiling windows in the main lobby, combined with large windows on all sides of the building, will flood the space with natural light.
The clinic offers primary care, audiology and speech pathology, physical therapy, mental health, ophthalmology, and prosthetic and sensory aid services. The clinic also features a lab, pharmacy, CT, X-ray, mammography, MRI and ultrasound technologies. Patient care spaces will be arranged around central staff work areas within each clinic to increase operational efficiencies.
