Within the next few weeks, construction will begin on what developers called “a flagship project,” a $94 million Rhode Island Veterans' Home in Bristol, to replace the one that has housed veterans for more than 100 years.

Originally built for Civil War veterans as the Rhode Island Soldiers Home, the century-old facility no longer meets the needs of veterans. It will be cleared away to make room for a new 260,000-square-foot facility. Those plans were presented to the Bristol Town Council on Wednesday, April 8, before a two-year construction project gets underway.

In November 2012, voters approved a $94 million bond referendum to replace the current facility on Metacom Avenue. Plans for the upgraded Veterans Home include a “cottage” design, with two, 16-bed skilled nursing suites jutting out from the main building, each having a main entry where residents can welcome guests into their home. The Veterans Home will have 208 beds, including a secure area for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments.

Although not included in the 2012 state budget, Rep. Raymond Gallison pushed for the item to be placed on the ballot as a bond referendum as a member of the House Finance Committee. Voters overwhelmingly supported the bond, with 77 percent approving.

Besides pushing the bond referendum forward, Mr. Gallison also chaired the committee that looked at the feasibility of building a new Veterans Home in Bristol.

“We had several different ideas of what the Veterans Home would look like,” he said of the planning.

Originally, the thought was to build the new structure on the eastern side of the existing Veterans Home, more toward the water. Because of the hilly topography, the buildings would be two-level structures. But the U.S. Department of Affairs nixed the two-level concept due to the mobility of veterans, and it will now be built to the west of the existing structure, closer to Metacom Avenue.

During the redesign, architects gathered historical photos of the original “Old Soldiers Home” and incorporated the gabled roofs, porches, dormers and other elements from the 1800s version into the modern design, creating the one-level cottage concept.

“The design now is gorgeous,” Mr. Gallison said.

While maintaining opportunities for residents to engage in social interaction, the design gives each "cottage" a living room, dining room and kitchen, allowing residents to spend time in their home, or mingle with other residents in the main dining room or common area.

In addition to the improved living features, veterans will enjoy upgraded areas where they receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, aqua therapy, music and arts. Once the current facility is demolished, that land will be remodeled for outdoor exercise use.

The revamp of the 110-acre site along Metacom Avenue and Annawamscutt Road aims to create a more appealing community within the neighborhood. Trees and shrubs will line new roads and sidewalks that provide access to the cottages, a look designed to fit better with the existing single family-homes in the area.

“We’re proud to have this in Bristol,” Bristol Town Council Chairman Nathan Calouro said after viewing the state’s presentation.

The project will be managed by the Peregrine Group of Rumford. Brewster Thornton Architects of Providence designed the building, and Gilbane Building Company will construct the facility. All three are Rhode Island-based companies.

In developing a suitable residence for veterans that provides comfort, care and a desirable living space, experts on all level of care were consulted to arrive at the approved design, said Michael P. Jolin, public information officer for the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.

By following federal guidelines, the state may be eligible to recover 65 percent of the building costs through federal funds. Locally, the The Rhode Island Veterans' Home in Bristol currently has 238 employees, 54 of whom reside in Bristol, with an economic impact of $3.4 million in salary, according to Mr. Jolin.

The current facility will remain operational during construction. But before work can begin, workers will face the task of relocating the century- old water tower that sits along the entrance road just west of the existing building.

“It’s one of those iconic symbols that everyone wanted to keep,” Mr. Jolin said of the tower, which will be lifted and moved to its new location without having to be dismantled, he said.

The project is scheduled for completion by the Fall of 2017, when veterans will move from an institutional setting into "cottages." The new facility will follow community living guidelines, doing away with the institutional functionality of the past in favor of a holistic approach that designers call “more welcoming, more respectful to Rhode Island veterans.”

“We feel very honored that this facility will be in Bristol and carry on the 100 years of tradition,” Councilor Halsey Herreshoff said.