For many aging veterans, finding a care community that feels both comfortable and dignified, yet meets medical needs, can be a challenge. The State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) partnered with Wold’s team of architects and engineers to change that with a bold vision: to expand access to high-quality, long-term skilled nursing care across the state, particularly in underserved rural regions. Their goal was to reimagine environments that honor veterans’ independence and sense of belonging, offering comprehensive care in settings that truly feel like home
As Minnesota’s veteran population has aged, many rural veterans face limited options for skilled nursing care close to their families and communities. The MDVA recognized this gap and launched an ambitious, first-of-its-kind initiative to expand access in rural regions through the construction of three new State Veterans Homes in Bemidji, Preston and Montevideo, marking a historic milestone.
While previous facilities provided necessary care, they often felt institutional and lacked the warmth, familiarity and independence veterans desired. Building on its previous household-model innovations, MDVA expanded and refined its approach to create state-of-the-art campuses that deliver compassionate, person-centered care within familiar, regionally inspired settings and designs. Together, these communities embody MDVA’s commitment to individualized, long-term care for veterans.
In collaboration with Perkins Eastman, Wold was selected to bring MDVA’s vision to life. The partnership combined Wold’s deep regional expertise in senior living and healthcare design with Perkins Eastman’s national experience with veterans’ care environments.
Each site posed unique landscape considerations for integration into the homes. At the same time, initial infrastructure challenges arose as we worked to meet the State of Minnesota’s ambitious sustainable design and energy-reduction goals. Through careful planning and engineering collaboration, the multidisciplinary team developed resilient site solutions that maintain accessibility, operational efficiency and aesthetic continuity, even amid the varied terrains of Minnesota’s northern woods, prairie grasslands and southeastern bluffs.
Creating connection, comfort and dignity
With extensive experience designing for complex care needs, Wold’s team focused on promoting health, independence and social connection through thoughtful design.
Following the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Small House Model, each home is organized into clusters of 18 private rooms. Preston includes three households for 54 residents, while Bemidji and Montevideo each have four households for 72. This layout minimizes travel distances to central dining and activity spaces, promoting independent movement for veterans with mobility challenges who may otherwise rely on staff in traditional Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs).
“No one likes to leave their home,” said Jim Larson, a 1974 military retiree and first resident admitted to the Bemidji Veterans Home. “But there are times when you have to move forward. I feel like I’m one of the luckiest people alive. I’ve visited a lot of people in nursing homes. This place is more like home. The people here treat you like family.”
Each private room features a fully accessible en-suite bathroom designed with safety and independence in mind – a critical consideration given that many falls occur in or on the way to the bathroom. Strategically placed grab bars, drop-down supports at toilets and zero-threshold showers for seamless entry, while ample maneuvering space allows veterans using wheelchairs or walkers to navigate and access all fixtures and storage areas easily.
Beyond the veteran’s private rooms, the building offers a range of communal environments from intimate alcoves for small gatherings of residents or family members to expansive lounges and multipurpose rooms that bring the entire household or campus together for shared events. Vibrant “town center” areas support socialization, alongside additional amenities such as:
In a post-occupancy evaluation, staff noted that families were visiting more often and staying longer, encouraged by the variety of spaces that supported interaction and activities with their loved ones.
“Living here has been a great experience,” Bill Homan, Montevideo Veterans Home First Resident and WWII-era Army Veteran. “I’ve made some wonderful friends and built strong relationships with good buddies. The staff is top-notch, and their support has made a big difference.”
Through meetings with local veterans groups and key stakeholders, veterans expressed a desire for a deep connection to the local environment. By grounding each home in familiar landscapes, the design nurtures emotional well-being and sustains meaningful ties to home and community. Each campus celebrates its natural and cultural context through a cohesive design theme:
Each building integrates high-performance systems, energy-efficient lighting and durable materials that reduce energy use and enhance comfort and support long-term operational goals. Designed to meet state sustainability standards for B3 - Buildings Benchmarks and Beyond and SB2030 energy reduction requirements, the campuses incorporate strategies such as horizontal geothermal fields, VRF heat pumps, enhanced envelope and glazing systems and optimized daylighting and air quality.
Through a holistic approach to sustainability and close collaboration with Willdan and Otter Tail Power Company’s Enhanced Energy Design Assistance program, the design team targeted an 80% reduction in energy consumption compared to an average building. The infrastructure is primarily electric, supported by gas water heaters and backup boilers, further minimizing the facilities’ carbon footprint. These measures have resulted in significant energy savings and were recognized through Minnesota’s B3 program for advancing sustainable, high-performance environments.
For the 198 veterans who call these facilities home, the impact is deeply personal. These homes don’t just provide skilled nursing care; they offer belonging, dignity and community to those who have given so much to citizens across the country.
“It’s unlike any other long-term care facility that I have entered,” said Gabby Kinneberg, Public Relations and Volunteer Coordinator at Preston Veterans Home. “We don’t refer to it as a facility. It’s truly a home… I love the team atmosphere and the culture we create.”
Fourteen years in the making, the Bemidji, Preston and Montevideo Veterans Homes mark a new level of veteran-centered care in Minnesota, where thoughtful design supports independence, reflects community and honors those who have served. Through collaboration and compassion, Wold and MDVA have created more than facilities: they’ve built true homes for the next chapter of veterans’ lives.
Since opening in January 2024, the homes have been further recognized for their innovation with the Best of B3 Design award from B3 Minnesota and the Skilled Nursing/Post-Acute Care Award in the Senior Housing News Architecture & Design Awards. Reach out to our team to discuss how Wold is redefining veteran-centered care and how we can partner on your next project.
