On October 29, the Commodore Builders | Walsh Brothers joint venture joined Governor Maura Healey, the Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS), veterans, families, staff, and project partners to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new Veterans Home at Holyoke — a significant milestone in the Commonwealth’s investment in veterans care.

For everyone involved in its construction, the project carries a clear purpose: to create a home that supports the comfort, dignity, and well-being of those who have served our country.

“Together, our team approached this project with a deep sense of purpose and a shared commitment to serving those who served,” said Joseph J. Albanese, Chairman and CEO of Commodore Builders, and Richard Walsh, President and CEO of Walsh Brothers, in a joint statement. “We have been privileged to work alongside the Commonwealth and the Veterans Home at Holyoke to build a home where veterans can receive care with honor, dignity, and respect, and where they and their families can find comfort and community.”

Designed by Payette, the eight-story, 350,000-square-foot building provides capacity for 234 long-term care beds. Its design follows the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ small-house model, bringing resident rooms together with shared dining, living, and gathering spaces to support a sense of home and community. The building also includes upgraded clinical and rehabilitation spaces and a dedicated 30-bed memory care unit.

Building on an Active Care Campus

Since the August 2023 groundbreaking, Commodore | Walsh has worked with the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), EOVS, Payette and trade partners to bring this vision to life. Construction has been phased to minimize disruption to veterans, staff, and neighbors while work progresses on the occupied campus.

The joint venture brings together Commodore Builders’ perspective as a veteran-owned construction management firm and Walsh Brothers’ extensive experience building within active healthcare environments. That shared commitment has guided an approach centered on the people who live and work at the Home.

The building incorporates a geothermal heating and cooling system, a high-efficiency exterior envelope, and triple-glazed windows. These features support the project’s energy-efficiency goals while helping create a comfortable environment for residents and staff.

Continuing the Campus Transformation

The new building is complete, along with the healing gardens and Holyoke Terrace Garden, which provide welcoming outdoor spaces for residents and families. Remaining work includes the maintenance garage and final site improvements, including parking areas and landscaping near the main entrance, with overall project completion anticipated in summer 2028.

Commodore | Walsh is grateful to the veterans, families, staff, public partners, and construction teams whose commitment has brought the project to this milestone. We are honored to help build a home that will serve Massachusetts veterans for generations to come.