Photo By Michael Maddox | Red Zone meeting participants gather for a group photo at the Louisville VA Medical...... read more read more
While there many ways to score points on a football field, the ultimate goal of any team is to push the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. Crossing the goal line into the end zone and finishing the scoring drive for a construction project means a successful completion for all those involved in the building process.
The team building the new Louisville VA Medical Center held a “Red Zone” meeting March 12, 2025, marking the approach to the “end zone” for the construction of the new facility and supporting structures.
Ben Bruder, the project manager for the Louisville VA Medical Center mega-project, said red zone meetings are pivotal milestone in the lifecycle of a construction project.
“Red zone meetings are typically held when a project reaches about 80% completion. Their primary purpose is to align all stakeholders and establish a clear and unified plan for closeout and final delivery,” he said “It serves as a forum to identify remaining critical tasks, coordinate schedules, clarify roles, and proactively resolve potential issues that could impact the successful completion of the project. Essentially, it marks the transition from construction execution to project turnover.”
Bruder said the meeting was a key moment to set expectations and chart the path forward for project closeout.
“All major stakeholders were at the table—including representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs, current hospital leadership, the Walsh-Turner Joint Venture II team, and several USACE team members. The meeting served to confirm that we are aligned not only on what still needs to be done but also on “how” we’re going to get it done—with clear priorities, ownership, and accountability,” he said. “This level of collaboration is critical for a complex and high-visibility project like this one, where medical services and veteran care are the ultimate mission.”
“The meeting was productive, collaborative, and forward-looking. There’s a strong sense of shared purpose across all teams, and it’s clear that everyone is committed to delivering a first-class facility for our veterans,” he added. “Construction is progressing steadily—we’re hitting key milestones and continuing to mitigate challenges as they arise. The momentum is there—we just have to keep the focus and energy going through the finish line.”
Monthly red zone meetings are planned to help keep up and build upon that momentum.
“From here on out, our "play" is all about tight coordination, proactive issue resolution, and aggressive scheduling,” Bruder explained. “We’ll be holding recurring coordination meetings with all stakeholders to maintain alignment. Currently templated for monthly installments but will likely occur more often as we get closer to the end of construction.”
He said those meetings will provide opportunities to:
• Finalize and execute commissioning and turnover plans.
• Ensure all pertinent stakeholders have a voice through closeout.
• Ensuring quality and schedule adherence in accordance with the contract.
• Keep close coordination with the VA activation team to ensure a seamless handoff.
“Just like in football, we’re in the red zone—it’s all about execution now. No room for missteps,” Bruder added.
Bruder said that just like in football, it takes a team to win at the end of the day.
“I’m proud of the teamwork and collaboration across all entities involved. This project is more than a building—it’s a commitment to those who’ve served our country,” he shared. “We owe it to our veterans to deliver a facility that meets the highest standards of care and performance. We’re on the final stretch, and I’m confident in this team’s ability to finish strong.”
The Louisville VA Medical Center is a $930 million project that includes the construction of a new 910,115 square-foot medical center, parking structures, a 42,205 square-foot central utility plant, roadways, sidewalks, and other site improvements.
The new 104-bed, full-service hospital will provide world-class healthcare for more than 45,000 Veterans in Kentucky and Southern Indiana by integrating modern patient-centered care concepts to provide the best possible care for Veterans. In addition, to specifically address the needs of women Veterans, the new hospital will include a Women’s Health Clinic with four Patient Aligned Care Teams.
The project designed by URS-Smith Group Joint Venture is being constructed by Walsh-Turner Joint Venture II, Chicago, Illinois.
Construction is anticipated to be complete in 2026.
To learn more about the project visit: www.va.gov/louisville-health-care/programs/new-robley-rex-va-medical-center.
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2025 14:53 |
| Story ID: | 494401 |
| Location: | LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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