On With Life is nationally recognized for its neuro rehabilitation outcomes, including a 53% average Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score change from inpatient admission to discharge, 76 Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS) on staff, and 81% of outpatient long-term goals met, according to On With Life. That level of clinical excellence demands a building that supports close observation, intensive therapies, and quiet spaces for rest.
For Hubbell, being selected as general contractor underscored the team’s experience working in healthcare and mission-driven environments. The project was about updating finishes and translating On With Life’s philosophy “Small steps. Giant strides” into every hallway, resident room, and therapy space. As healthcare and nonprofit leaders look for construction partners, they are increasingly asking: who truly understands the link between environment and outcomes? The Polk City collaboration offers a concrete example of how design, construction, and care teams can align around that shared goal.
Inside the $7.5M transformation of On With Life’s Polk City skilled care facility Hubbell Construction Services delivered a full remodel of On With Life’s Long Term Skilled Care Facility in Polk City, Iowa, transforming a 20,200-square-foot building originally constructed in the 1970s. The $7.5 million project started in July 2023 and reached completion in May 2024, meeting the nonprofit’s critical schedule for reopening.
“Hubbell didn’t just renovate a building. They helped us create an environment that reflects the quality of care and hope we strive to provide every day.” – Jean Shelton, CEO On with Life
Inside, the building underwent a complete interior demolition and rebuild. Aging nursing home layouts were replaced with updated resident rooms, wider corridors, and modern care team work areas designed for today’s neuro rehabilitation standards. Durable but warm finishes help families feel at home while supporting the rigorous cleaning and infection-control needs of a healthcare setting.
On the exterior, Hubbell refreshed the envelope with new windows, siding replacement, and brick staining to give the building a cohesive, contemporary look. Targeted site improvements such as upgraded entries and circulation paths improve accessibility and reduce wayfinding stress for families arriving on campus.
Because long-term neuro care often means extended stays, the team focused on creating spaces that feel less institutional and more residential. Soft lighting, views to the outdoors, and thoughtfully located gathering areas help residents maintain routines and connection. Every design and construction decision was filtered through a simple question: does this make it easier for patients and families to get “on with life” during a difficult season? Designing buildings around complex neuro rehabilitation needs Neuro rehabilitation is highly specialized, and the built environment has to keep pace. At On With Life, teams treat individuals living with brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, concussion, and complex neurological conditions, all of which require careful attention to sensory load, safety, and accessibility.
In practice, this means designing layouts that minimize long, disorienting corridors and avoid visual clutter. Clear sightlines from nurse stations to resident rooms support quick response times without feeling intrusive. Flooring transitions are kept subtle to reduce trip hazards and confusion for individuals relearning how to walk or navigate with assistive devices.
Acoustics and lighting are equally important. Bright, flickering lights and echoing spaces can be overwhelming for someone recovering from a traumatic brain injury. By coordinating closely with the care team, Hubbell’s construction professionals supported lighting schemes and material choices that soften the environment and help regulate stimulation.
Because On With Life operates across multiple campuses—from Ankeny to Polk City and Coralville—the organization also needed a facility that can flex with future therapies and technologies. Open therapy zones, appropriately sized equipment rooms, and adaptable staff spaces give the clinical team room to evolve while maintaining the strong outcomes highlighted on On With Life’s site.
“From planning through completion, Hubbell operated as a true partner, balancing schedule, budget, and the specialized needs of our residents and care teams.”
Building in sensitive healthcare settings without disrupting care
Remodeling an active or closely connected healthcare campus requires a different mindset than a ground-up commercial build. In Polk City, Hubbell Construction Services had to coordinate around sensitive neuro rehabilitation populations, staff schedules, and family routines while still pushing a tight construction timeline.
Noise, vibration, and dust control become non-negotiable priorities when working near people recovering from brain injuries or strokes. Sequencing demolition and high-impact activities during lower-traffic periods helps reduce disruption. Temporary barriers, negative air machines, and clearly marked alternate routes protect both infection control and wayfinding.
Communication is another critical tool. Regular check-ins with On With Life’s leadership ensured that clinical priorities—like admission surges, therapy program changes, or family events—were built into the construction schedule. This level of coordination is what allows projects to stay on time without compromising safety or the patient experience.
The lessons from Polk City apply broadly to hospitals, senior living communities, and specialty clinics. When choosing a contractor, leaders should ask for examples of work in sensitive environments and look for specifics around phasing, communication plans, and how teams protected staff, patients, and visitors during past projects. What this project says about Hubbell’s third-party construction partnerships While the On With Life remodel is a standout example in healthcare, it also reflects how Hubbell Construction Services partners with a wide range of third-party clients across Iowa and Nebraska. The same disciplined approach to schedule, budget, and communication shows up in industrial, flex, and office projects.
For example, Hubbell’s work on Beisser Lumber in Johnston, Iowa delivered a 56,000-square-foot office, showroom, and warehouse facility at approximately $1.5 million, supporting a regional building materials partner with a modern operational hub.
At Birchwood Crossing Flex, also in Johnston, Hubbell built a 72,000-square-foot flex/tech commercial building with an $8.9 million budget, giving businesses adaptable space for growth.
In Coralville, the CIVCO project combined production and warehouse space with office and amenities across 96,000 square feet. That mix of technical requirements and employee-focused spaces mirrors the balance struck at On With Life: efficient operations paired with environments where people can do their best work.
“The success of this project reinforced that Hubbell can take on complex, mission-critical facilities and deliver spaces that serve people for decades to come.”
These examples illustrate that Hubbell’s role as general contractor is not limited to its own developments. Third-party partners, from healthcare nonprofits to manufacturers, tap into the same vertically integrated expertise that supports Hubbell’s internal portfolio. For organizations navigating their first major construction project in years, that breadth of experience can significantly reduce risk.
Carrying the spirit of Hubbell’s 2024 Extreme Build into every project Hubbell’s 2024 Extreme Build showcased what can happen when construction expertise, community partners, and volunteers come together to deliver a high-impact project on an accelerated timeline. That same community-first mindset is evident in the company’s work with On With Life and other mission-driven organizations.
In Polk City, the stakes were personal: families waiting for long-term neuro rehabilitation beds, staff eager for spaces that match the quality of their care, and an organization recognized as one of only two skilled inpatient rehabilitation programs in the world accredited by CARF as a CIIRP in brain injury and stroke for adults and children. Helping them re-open in a modernized building meant more people could access specialized care close to home.
Extreme Build projects demonstrate Hubbell’s willingness to roll up its sleeves for the communities it serves, whether through volunteer-heavy initiatives or complex third-party construction. Both types of work rely on tight coordination, clear communication, and a commitment to doing what is right for the people who will ultimately use the space.
For leaders considering a construction partner—especially in healthcare, nonprofit, or community-focused settings—the On With Life remodel and Hubbell’s Extreme Build experience point to the same conclusion. Choosing a contractor who understands both bricks-and-mortar and mission can turn a difficult building journey into a milestone that moves your organization forward.
