ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN MANUAL
FOR (DESIGN BUILD) NURSING HOME PROJECTS
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
May 2006
CRITERIA UNIQUE TO VA: All VA facilities must comply with the Uniform
1.
Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and VA Program Guide PG-18-13,
"Barrier Free Design Guide" and this design manual (see paragraph 24).
GENERAL: The purpose of this publication is to introduce you to some of
2.
the VA architectural requirements and criteria you will be expected to
follow in executing your contract.
2.1
CODES:
a.
This criteria, and the current edition of VA Design and
Construction Procedures, Master Specifications, Handbooks, and
Program Guides;
b.
The latest editions of the National Fire Codes including the
Life Safety Code (NFPA 101);
c.
The International Building Code 2003;
d.
The requirements of the latest Occupational Safety and Health
Standards (OSHA) published by the Secretary of Labor;
2.2
ARCHITECT-ENGINEER TEAM:
A.
The VA has found that the best design solution for a project
occurs when the complete project team formed by the A/E has
input in the early schematics phase.
B.
The A/E's team, planners, architects, engineers, programmers,
and consultants are required to work together from the
inception of the project and must make sure that all
engineering disciplines are coordinated with the architectural
and programming requirements of the project. Care must be
exercised to provide design solutions that will meet the
construction standards, space requirements, equipment layouts,
and vertical and horizontal clearances required by the VA.
Conflicts between engineering systems and architectural
requirements must be resolved before the Request for Proposal
(RFP) is issued.
2.3
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: You may propose the use of any building
material and any method of assembly. Proposals for use of
relatively untried materials or of unusual methods of
construction, however, shall be discussed with the Office of
Facilities Management as early as possible.
2.4
EXTERIOR DESIGN REVIEW:
a.
Before completion of the RFP documents, there will be a review
of the exterior design by the facility director and by, within
the Office of Facilities Management, Project Director's
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