TAMPA, FL—Healthcare construction was one of the mainstays of the recession and is proving to be a staple for some developers during the recovery. Duke Realty is developing its second medical facility for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The VA chose Duke Realty to develop and serve as general contractor for a 106,000-square-foot primary care clinic at Hidden River Corporate Park at Interstate 75 and Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. Duke previously developed a 213,029-square-foot satellite outpatient VA clinic in Fort Worth, Texas, which opened in the fall of 2010.

“The VA has a program of several large facilities across the country each year,” says Glenn Hoge, senior vice president of Development Services for Duke Realty. “So far there has been little change in the VA’s plan but it is subject to budgeting constraints and approvals like everything else.”

The new facility will house services currently provided by the nearby James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. The facility makes it possible for the VA hospital to expand healthcare to more than 87,000 veterans in Pasco, Polk, Hernando and Hillsborough counties. Beyond primary care services, the two-story facility will offer women’s wellness, radiology, mental health services and a pharmacy.

“Healthcare development is very strong now and in the foreseeable future,” Hoge says. “Duke Realty is pursuing other VA outpatient facilities but currently we are developing only this Tampa facility.”

Construction of the clinic is expected to begin in August 2012 and the doors of the new VA clinic should open in December 2013. The VA will rent the space from Duke Realty and is expected to fully occupy the building by February 2014.