Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center

Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center serves the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and other tribal members. Continued growth in patients and services created the need to expand its existing facility, which opened in 2018. The project added approximately 9,000 sq. ft. while renovating the laboratory within an active healthcare environment.

Yellowhawk faced an unforgiving deadline. Federal COVID-19 funding had to be used within a prescribed period, leaving approximately one year to design, permit and build the project. This was also the Owner’s first Progressive Design-Build (PDB) experience. During procurement, Yellowhawk emphasized qualifications and team capability, with price weighted at 20%. The selected team was the only one to request a site visit.

Validation Shapes a Better Program

Validation began with direct observation and user engagement rather than automatically accepting the original concept. Walking the site with staff revealed the need to separate maintenance traffic from parking used by Tribal Elders. The team also eliminated lower-priority administrative renovations and redirected those funds toward storage and clinical services. Twelve program scenarios showed Yellowhawk how different combinations would affect cost, parking and long-term operations.

A formal governance structure kept decisions moving. Working groups represented laboratory, medical expansion, maintenance and site needs, while a core team monitored scope and budget. Tribal Elders and leadership retained final approval. The team completed validation and advanced the design to permitting and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) in 16 weeks.

The resulting expansion improves laboratory workflow and patient privacy while adding an exam room and space for future mammography services. A dedicated Elders’ entrance provides safer parking and more direct access to care. When Tribal Elders requested an exterior canopy late in the design process, the team incorporated it without affecting completion.

The project finished on schedule and approximately $72,000 below its GMP, with no recordable safety incidents. Yellowhawk’s experience demonstrates how an engaged Owner can use PDB validation to improve both operational and community outcomes within a fixed deadline.

Design-Build Team

Photos

Photo Credits: Josh Partee