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Work is progressing rapidly on a veterans home in Lebanon, according to project engineer Matt Baker of .

鈥淭here is still some final grading left to be done on the pads, but we’re happy to report that they are substantially protected from weather,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’ve placed more than 13,000 tons of rock and have had a peak of 16 truck-and-pups in circulation.鈥�

Janice Westcott, the director of marketing for Lease Crutcher Lewis, said construction is scheduled to finish in July 2014. She added that the structure, designed by of Salem, is being built according to a new federal model for senior veteran care.

Jim Willis, the director of the , said that model calls for shared living spaces. The 154-bed facility will contain 11 community clusters 鈥� each with 14 one-bedroom units. A 42-bed Alzheimer’s wing also is planned.

Work on underground utilities, earthwork, grading and electrical infrastructure began last month.

鈥淭his work was expedited to begin before the fall rains set in,鈥� Westcott said. 鈥淭he soil on-site is comprised of typical Willamette silt. When wet, it becomes more difficult, and more costly, to excavate.

鈥淧erforming the site work during the dry months instead of mid to late fall (the original time frame) allows us to use less costly grading equipment and complete the scope within a shorter time frame,鈥� she said.

This will be Oregon’s second veterans home. It will be named after Army Major Edward C. Allworth. He earned the Medal of Honor during World War I after leading his troops to safety and the capture of more than 100 German soldiers during a battle Nov. 5, 1918, at the Meuse River.

After the war, Allworth returned to Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) and spent the next 38 years as secretary of the alumni association and the Memorial Union Board of Governors.

Linn County voters approved a $10 million bond to help pay for the $30 million project.