The Community Living Center sits on the east side of the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center campus, which had a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 24, 2026, in Long Beach, California. USACE PHOTO BY SHAWN DAVIS
USACE and VA Open New 120-Bed Center at Tibor Rubin VAMC
Facility Ribbon Cutting: USACE Los Angeles District and Department of Veterans Affairs opened a new 120-bed Community Living Center in Long Beach, CA, on July 24, 2026.
Modern Healthcare Infrastructure: The modern, three-story facility replaces aging residential units with private veteran rooms, modern amenities, and campus-view terraces.
USACE Technical Oversight: USACE provided project management and engineering expertise, supervising construction partners to meet complex medical facility standards.
Campus Modernization: The project builds on recent Long Beach campus investments, following last year’s delivery of two new mental health facilities.
Regional VA Mega-Projects: LA District actively manages major VA healthcare construction across Southern California, including sites in Long Beach, San Diego, and West Los Angeles.
Editor’s Note: The following is from the USACE Los Angeles District, curated by America’s Engineers for commercial contractor and industry visibility. The original report can be found at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District news repository.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District joined the Department of Veterans Affairs and local veterans July 24 to celebrate the opening of a new 120-bed Community Living Center in Long Beach.
The facility, located at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, marks a significant milestone in providing state-of-the-art care to the nation’s veterans.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiled a modern, three-story facility designed to provide long-term care with a focus on dignity, healing and a sense of home. The project represents a collaborative effort between the VA, USACE and construction partners to deliver on the nation’s promise to care for its veterans.
Attendants at the July 24, 2026 Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center Community Living Center ribbon-cutting ceremony cut the ceremonial ribbon in front of the building at Long Beach, California. USACE PHOTO BY SHAWN DAVIS
“For the veteran who comes here, this is not a project; it is a place to rest, it is a place to recover, and it is a place to feel at home,” said Maj. Antony Palocaren, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District deputy commander.
Palocaren continued to highlight the legacy of the facility’s namesake, Tibor Rubin, a Holocaust survivor and Medal of Honor recipient, who served in the Korean War where he built a legacy of helping his fellow Soldiers, even after his service, at the now Tibor Rubin VAMC.
“Tibor Rubin believed we should show up for our veterans again and again and again — for as long as it takes,” Palocaren said. “That’s the legacy we’re honoring today.”
Maj. Antony Palocaren, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District deputy commander, provides remarks during the July 24, 2026 Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center Community Living Center ribbon-cutting ceremony at Long Beach, California. USACE PHOTO BY SHAWN DAVIS
USACE provided project management and technical expertise, overseeing construction to ensure the facility met the complex specifications required for a modern medical center. Palocaren emphasized the shared mission of all entities involved.
“The VA brings its enduring commitment and care for the veterans,” he said. “(USACE) brings its responsibility to deliver. Our industry partners bring the skill to turn a shared vision into a place of healing. Different roles, one mission.”
The new center replaces aging residential facilities, offering veterans private rooms, modern amenities and terraces with views of the campus. USACE is involved in multiple projects on campus aiming to modernize infrastructure and construct new facilities that enhance health care outcomes for veterans. Just last year, the LA District participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for two mental health facilities on campus. Acting VA Long Beach director Cristina White said the project is an ongoing part of the journey for the medical center to become the nation’s top health care system.
Attendants of the July 24, 2026 Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center Community Living Center ribbon-cutting ceremony at Long Beach, California, listen as agency leaders and representatives provide remarks. USACE PHOTO BY SHAWN DAVIS
At the forefront of the ribbon cutting was Resident Council President Bill Jimenez, a veteran, who thanked the nursing staff directly.
“You guys are the backbone of this industry,” he said. “That gives us the will to keep walking, keep running, keep going forward … to better ourselves and to heal ourselves.”
USACE continues its progress across its portfolio of VA projects, aiming to deliver vital engineering solutions to its nation’s veterans. The LA District is involved in projects at Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California; Jennifer Moreno VA Medical Center in San Diego, California; and West Los Angeles VA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. To learn more about these projects, visit spl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Mega-Projects/Veterans-Affairs-Medical-Facilities.
This article was originally published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the title, “USACE, Veterans Affairs cut ribbon for new community living center at Tibor Rubin VAMC.” Reposted with permission.
