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Principled Design in Service of Growing a Healthier Tomorrow

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Banco Popular New Villalba Di Novo Branch

Toa Alta Heights Complete Streets

VA Heroes Domiciliary – Hato Rey, PR

The new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Heroes Domiciliary – Mental Health and Recovery Facility is a 69,500-square-foot complex located on a 3.98-acre urban infill site at Muñoz Rivera Avenue and Avenida Central, San Juan. Designed to support both inpatient and outpatient care. The facility includes:
- Inpatient Wing: 40 individual rooms totaling 24,000 square feet.
- Administrative Levels: Two floors encompassing 16,000 square feet.
- Outpatient Wing: A two-level, 29,500-square-foot space housing a dining hall, meeting areas, classrooms, and back-of-house facilities, centered around a 6,600-square-foot landscaped courtyard.
- Healing Garden: Adjacent to the dining hall, the garden offers a tranquil space for recreation and contemplation.
PIERI Architects participated as the energy and environmental design consultant in this project, teaming from the project's inception with SCF Architects, the designers and architects of record, and the project's MEP, Landscape designer, and commissioning agent, to visualize, identify, and integrate thoughtful and practical energy and environmental design strategies into the project design documents.
The project aligns with the VA’s sustainability policies and the site and building are designed to comply with PRECC 2018, GSA, and VA energy and environmental standards.
During construction PIERI Architects followed-thru, to provide guidance and support to BIRD Group, Las Brisas Property Management, and the Commissioning Agents to enable them to execute the energy and environmental design requirements during construction.
The resulting team effort enabled the project to achieve a Green Globes – NC rating of 2 Globes.
Key Sustainability Features Include:
Low-Impact Site Design:
- Proximity to the Piñero Tren Urbano Station (¼ mile) and three AMA bus routes.
- Compliance with EISA 438 standards for managing 95th-percentile stormwater using bio-swales, and permeable parking area pavement.
- High albedo roof membrane, hardscape, landscape, and premeable parking aid in reducing the site's Heat-Island signature.
- Dark Sky-compliant exterior light fixtures minimize light pollution.
Water Efficiency:
- Native and adaptive landscaping, and a programmable landscape irrigation system.
- 35% potable water use reduction using Water-Sense and Energy Star Rated Fixtures and Equipment.
- Sub-metered water systems track water use.
Energy Performance:
- 32% less energy consumption compared to ASHRAE baseline model. Sub-metered energy systems track energy use.
- Comprehensive building systems and envelope commissioning.
Materials and Resources:
- 80% of construction waste diverted from landfill.
- Mindful materials selection for circularity, recycled content, environmental and health performance.
Indoor Environmental Quality:
- Construction indoor air quality (IAQ) management during construction and Building Flush-out.
- Low-emitting and non-toxic finish materials, paints, adhesives, and sealants.
- Patient Rooms all have ample window space to provide natural light and views. The patient rooms are all oriented to Northern and Southern exposures to significantly reduce glare and direct solar intrusion.
- Strict adherence with the VA Design Guidelines for acoustic isolation and privacy for all patient areas.
This project exemplifies thoughtful design and sustainable practices tailored to meet the needs of the Veterans it serves and the surrounding urban community.

Project Data
- Owner: Las Brisas Development Group
- End User: US Department of Veterans Affairs
- Architect: SCFA Architects
- Builders: BIRD Group, LLC.
- PIERI Architects Role: LEED Guidance and Administration, Energy Modeling, Commissioning
- Commissioning Agent: RAP Engineering
- Delivery Method: Developer-Led Design-Build
- Construction Period: 24 Months
- Substantial Completion: May 2024

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