DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans
For more than 40 years, the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans has been a cornerstone of care for men and women who have served in the armed forces. As the only state veterans’ home in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, it has provided housing, medical care, and community for generations of service members.
But by 2022 the existing building was showing its age. Shared rooms reduced privacy and dignity, outdated infrastructure limited the quality of care, and undersized therapy and rehabilitation areas could no longer meet modern medical standards.
To address these challenges, the State of Michigan-Michigan Veteran Homes committed to building a replacement home – a state-of-the-art skilled care facility on a new property. The new home would be situated on a scenic 30+ acre wooded site, with constructed ponds providing a natural, restorative setting for residents. GEI Consultants has supported the project from day one, providing environmental, engineering, regulatory, and construction services to bring this vision to life. As part of a collaborative team, GEI is helping ensure the new facility is built on a strong foundation—environmentally, structurally, and operationally.
GEI provided geotechnical engineering to evaluate subsurface conditions and inform foundation designs suited to the site’s soils, as well as environmental services to assess natural resources and ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
Our team led the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, working to protect historic and cultural assets while meeting environmental documentation requirements. We also provided civil/site engineering for grading, utilities, stormwater management, and site planning, to create a resilient and functional facility.
GEI is also providing construction QA/QC services to verify quality standards, safeguard design intent, and support successful project delivery.
Once completed in 2027, the new facility will encompass more than 120,000 square feet of residential and clinical space. It is designed around a neighborhood model of care, with three residential neighborhoods that will house a total of 128 private rooms, each with its own private bathroom. Within each neighborhood, veterans will enjoy homelike dining areas, living rooms, and gathering spaces that foster dignity, independence, and community.
In addition to residential areas, the facility will provide expanded clinical support and rehabilitation spaces, modern therapy gyms, and family rooms for visiting loved ones. Outdoor courtyards and walking paths will offer opportunities for recreation and connection with nature, while advanced safety systems and technology will ensure veterans receive the highest quality of care.
The new DJ Jacobetti Skilled Care Facility represents more than a building; it is a promise to care for those who have given so much to their country. It honors veterans with dignity, comfort, and community, ensuring those who served our nation will continue to receive the respect and quality of life they deserve.
