The Altru Health System, a critical lifeline for residents in the rural expanses of North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota, has opened the doors of a modern new facility. Altru Hospital provides a comprehensive range of services, from family medicine and primary care to cancer treatment, labor and delivery and mental health services for the Grand Forks community.

Limited access to health care is one of several reasons rural residents, like those living outside of Grand Forks, are more likely to face illness and even premature death compared to those living in an urban area. Although the hospital has long been renowned for its compassionate and advanced medical care, the original Altru Hospital, built in 1976, was struggling to find the physical space needed to accommodate the ever-evolving technology of modern medicine. It became clear to hospital leadership: the community deserved a new, state-of-the-art facility to better meet their health care needs.

PCL Construction broke ground in the summer of 2019 on a $305 million, 528,000-square-foot, seven-story facility for the Altru Health System. However, the project encountered significant hurdles. In late 2019, hospital leadership scaled back the design of the building in response to a trend toward outpatient versus inpatient care. In 2020, construction was paused to allow hospital leadership and staff to concentrate on combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Thoughtful strategy and coordination went into this project,” says Ryan Richardson, area manager of PCL’s North Dakota office. “With scope changes and construction delays caused by the pandemic, we had to adjust the schedule and complete tasks out of the usual order. Our team was committed to getting this project done on time, and their hard work really paid off.”

By 2021, recognizing the broader uncertainties highlighted by the pandemic, the original seven-story plan was reinstated, and construction recommenced. PCL swiftly adapted, coordinating with subcontractors to manage overlapping scopes such as exterior envelope work and interior framing, all while prioritizing patient care and maintaining access to the adjacent active hospital. Despite these hurdles, the project stayed on track, ensuring the hospital opened on schedule.

The final project, completed in January 2025, resulted in a $470 million, 552,000-square-foot hospital featuring 12 operating rooms, four catheterization/electrophysiology labs and 226 licensed beds. The new hospital was designed with patients and health care workers in mind, incorporating advanced technology and thoughtful amenities. It features an integrated interventional radiology (IR) and CT scan units, which enhance diagnostic accuracy and timely decision-making. The hospital also includes negative pressure units to prevent the spread of airborne contaminants, ensuring safer conditions during infectious disease outbreaks.

Incorporating natural light was a priority in the design, with over 250 window openings providing a healing environment for patients and boosting the morale of health care workers who spend long hours indoors. Another patient amenity incorporated into the new building was the adoption of single occupancy rooms. This provides patients and their families with privacy, fostering comfort and faster recovery.

“Having a private room is a game changer for families facing stressful situations like a baby in the NICU or a loved one undergoing a critical procedure,” says Jonathan Stoeckman, a general superintendent with PCL. “It provides more space, greater comfort, and fewer restrictions, allowing families to focus solely on their loved one’s recovery.”

Additionally, a multi-faith spiritual center was incorporated into the hospital to ensure patients, guests and team members of any faith could have the opportunity to find solace in a safe space within the hospital. “It’s really special,” says Stoeckman. “This hospital in a small rural Midwestern town is making a point to accommodate so many community members during what may be the most stressful and challenging moments of their lives.”

On the opening day, staff transferred all patients from the old hospital to the new facility via a temporary hallway connecting the two buildings. This innovative solution allowed patients to be moved without the need for discharge and readmission, streamlining the transition and providing a continuation of care.

“Getting this right was crucial,” says Stoeckman. “The entire building and temporary hallway had to be finished simultaneously to move all patients at once. Hospitals are so interconnected that every service needed to be ready for a seamless, all-or-nothing transition.”

The new Altru Hospital stands as a testament to PCL’s and Altru’s commitment to health care excellence, ensuring that even remote communities have access to the highest quality medical services.