New VA Clinic Plans Texas-Style Dedication

14 March 2003

Brownwood, Texas – From big-time speakers to a big idea in construction, Brownwood’s new VA clinic is planning a dedication ceremony fit for Texas – it’s gonna be big.

The Veterans Administration Community Outpatient Clinic is an approximately 11,000 square-foot building situated in Memorial Park Medical Center’s 36-acre development community. Though it may look like your typical outpatient clinic, it has big benefits – including being built with ECO-Block insulating concrete forms (ICFs), one of the nation’s most sought-after ICF systems.

“When we discussed building the VA clinic, we were most impressed with ECO-Block because of its long-term benefits,” said Bill Ruth, attorney and principle owner of Wesleyan Development Corporation, which developed the Memorial Park Medical Center. “With energy prices going up, people are getting more concerned about rising utility costs. ECO-Block’s energy efficiency can result in significant savings on heating and cooling. And we know that ECO-Block structures can stand up to strong winds and tornados. That’s something we’re familiar with in central Texas.”

Also familiar to Texas is the dedication’s featured speaker Ross Perot, a recognized leader and businessman, and an advocate for veterans. Top VA officials and local dignitaries will also join him as speakers at the event.

“We had 200 people at the groundbreaking in June, and we’re expecting over twice as many at the dedication,” said Ruth. “The event will let us showcase what the clinic is doing for the community and how ECO-Block is advancing our efforts. We’ve been so pleased with its performance, we’re going to use ECO-Block on all our future projects.”
ECO-Block ICFs, a state-of-the-art concept with a dynamic market, are expanded polystyrene foam panels that are assembled into forms and then filled with concrete. When the concrete cures, the panels remain in place as a permanent part of the building, providing built-in insulation.

ECO-Block is found in residential and commercial construction across the country. Building owners have reported savings of up to 50% in utility costs. ECO-Block is strong, long-lasting and – because it saves on both energy and building materials – it’s environmentally friendly.

The VA Community Outpatient Clinic dedication is scheduled for Monday, March 17 at
11 a.m. For all the big details, contact Curtis Martin at (918) 671-7720.