Construction has begun on a $300 million state hospital based in Jamestown, North Dakota, which is a major milestone in the expansion of the state's behavioral health infrastructure. 

A ceremony that included Governor Kelly Armstrong and state leaders was held to commemorate the announcement, as a new 300,000-square-foot facility has been introduced to the construction phase and will soon replace North Dakota's 1885-era hospital and provide a modern and trauma-informed facility.

The project will include 140 inpatient beds, therapeutic rooms, security systems, and sustainable design features. The new facility is included in the state budget proposal for 2025-2027 as part of the $20.3 billion overall spending plan approved by lawmakers. Construction is expected to be completed by late 2027.

At present, North Dakota ranks second in the nation for per capita construction spending - reflecting a statewide infrastructure boom that includes significant private and public projects. Mortenson Construction is the head contractor on the hospital build, with design assistance from JLG Architects, Architecture+, and Tegra Group. 

The hospital is designed to have private patient rooms, spaces for therapeutic activities, and a teaching kitchen, as well as a botanical garden and barber shop to promote healing and well-being. It will house forensic services and psychiatric inpatient care and will also have specialized programming, for example, sex offender evaluation and restoration services.

Alongside its broader purpose of patient care, the new hospital will also act as a training ground for healthcare providers. Officials note that the state would expand collaboration with universities and medical schools, establishing a pipeline of doctors, nurses, and mental health providers. They explain that it is essential to develop the workforce, especially with the ongoing national supply shortage of behavioral healthcare providers.

Local leaders also believe the facility will provide huge economic benefits. Aside from hundreds of construction jobs, the hospital is expected to result in long-term jobs in Jamestown and the surrounding area. Food services and transportation linked to the facility will benefit small businesses and subcontractors in the area.

The project is part of a larger initiative to modernize facilities and infrastructure in North Dakota. As previously reported in Contractor News, the infrastructure ballot measures of the state and the $1 billion in federal airport construction funds indicate how states are using federal and local dollars to initiate long-lasting growth.

As the Jamestown project progresses, it indicates a renewed belief in the possibility of mental health care in North Dakota, while reinforcing the state’s image as the nation’s leader in infrastructure investment and construction.