Department of Veterans Affairs Portland Outpatient Care Center

Veterans now receive basic medical and mental healthcare locally at this community-based outpatient care facility, rather than traveling to the nearest VA Medical Center. The building, located in an industrial area, overlooks Casco Bay. Inspired by Hokusai’s “The Wave” woodblock print, SMRT’s design uses metal roofing shingles as siding to recreate an industrial-like pixilated version of a great wave breaking on the building’s façade. To save energy, the team incorporated high levels of roof and wall insulation, high-efficiency lighting with occupancy sensors and thermal-break aluminum exterior doors and windows.