Construction has officially begun on the new North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown, marking a major step forward for behavioral healthcare in the state. The $300 million facility will replace the existing hospital and provide 140 beds across 316,000 square feet.

The hospital will serve adult, geriatric, and forensic patients, offering psychiatric rehabilitation and specialized behavioral health care. Planned amenities include a fitness center, chapel, therapy rooms, computer labs, and a botanical garden designed to support healing and recovery.

The project team features JLG Architects as the lead architect, with Architecture+ as design consultants and Mortenson Construction managing construction. Work is expected to finish by late 2027.

The groundbreaking ceremony, hosted by the North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services (NDHHS), highlighted the importance of the project for Jamestown and the broader state. The new hospital aims to provide a more modern, patient-centered environment while expanding services that meet the state’s growing mental health needs.

Officials emphasized that the design goes beyond clinical care. Amenities such as an arts room, music room, teaching kitchen, and vocational training spaces will provide opportunities for patients to engage in therapeutic activities, build life skills, and prepare for reintegration into their communities.

The inclusion of a rehabilitation apartment will allow patients to practice independent living before discharge, while the sensory room and group therapy spaces reflect the latest approaches in behavioral healthcare. Outdoor features, including a botanical garden and landscaped green spaces, were incorporated to create a calming environment that supports mental well-being.

“This new hospital represents a once-in-a-generation investment in behavioral health care for North Dakotans,” said state health officials during the ceremony. “It is designed to ensure patients not only receive treatment but also opportunities to heal, grow, and thrive.”

By 2027, the new North Dakota State Hospital is expected to become one of the most advanced behavioral health facilities in the region, setting a model for patient-focused care in the Midwest.

Originally reported by Tracey Walker in Health Care Design.