Final Steel Beam Placed on McKenzie Health System’s New Hospital

Representatives from McKenzie Health System, its Board of Trustees, Foundation and Auxiliary, volunteers, and community supporters gathered July 16 to mark the signing and placement of the final structural steel beam at the site of McKenzie Health System’s new hospital.

McKenzie Health System celebrated another major milestone in the construction of its new hospital on July 16 as the final structural steel beam was signed and lifted into place at the Chrysalis Project site.

Before the beam was placed, a small group of representatives from McKenzie Health System, its Board of Trustees, Foundation and Auxiliary, volunteers, and community supporters gathered to mark the occasion by adding their signatures and messages to the steel, a lasting reminder of the people and community behind the project.

“Seeing the final steel beam go into place is an exciting and very visible reminder of just how far we have come,” said Steve Barnett, President and CEO of McKenzie Health System. “This new hospital is being built for our community, but it is also being made possible by our community. We are incredibly grateful for the employees, volunteers, donors, partners, and community members who continue to believe in McKenzie and in the future of healthcare here at home.”

The placement of the final steel beam marks the completion of a significant phase of construction as the new hospital continues to take shape. Work will now continue throughout the building as crews move forward with the exterior enclosure, roofing, mechanical and electrical systems, and interior construction.

The approximately 70,000-square-foot replacement hospital is being designed to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the region while creating a more efficient, accessible and patient-centered environment. The new one-story facility will bring key hospital services together in a modern space designed to support patients, families, and healthcare professionals for generations to come.

The Chrysalis Project represents one of the most significant investments in healthcare in McKenzie Health System’s history and reflects years of planning and support from throughout the community.

“This milestone is about much more than a piece of steel,” Barnett added. “It represents the commitment of so many people who have helped us reach this point and the future we are building together. With every step forward, that future becomes a little more real.”

Construction of the new hospital remains on schedule, with substantial completion anticipated in spring 2027 and the transition to the new facility planned for fall 2027.

For updates on the Chrysalis Project and the progress of the new hospital, visit McKenzieHealth.org/Build.