JLG Architects joined state leaders in Jamestown, North Dakota, on September 22 to celebrate the beam signing for the new North Dakota State Hospital. The facility will replace the state's main 1980s building, along with several aging structures that have served the state since 1885.
Who's Got the Keys:
Project leads: ND Department of Health & Human Services and ND Office of Management & Budget
Architect of Record: JLG Architects, with architecture+ as associate architect
Construction manager: Mortenson
Owner's rep: Tegra Group
Steel on the Prairie:
The project broke ground in August 2025, just west of the existing hospital. The team is anticipating completion in late 2027 and an opening in 2028.
294,756 square feet
140 beds
More than 300 staff
Six outdoor courtyards with native plantings and walking paths
Many Departments, One Address:
JLG principal Todd Medd called the project more than a replacement for the old hospital. According to JLG, uniting multiple departments and specializations will make the hospital more sustainable and operationally efficient.
A Floor Plan With a Zip Code:
Designed as a trauma-informed care environment, the hospital follows a "Home, Neighborhood, Downtown" model. "Home" pairs home-like private spaces with clusters of eight rooms that limit disruption.
"Neighborhood" covers group and living rooms, laundry, and medication spaces. "Downtown" gives patients access to gyms, therapy, skills classrooms, and even barber and banking services.
Call it a small town, minus the city council.
Class Is in Session:
The facility is slated to include an education wing, simulation areas, and respite rooms, and it will foster university partnerships. According to JLG, ongoing education, self-care, and recovery are key to retaining and recruiting staff.
The steel is rising now, and the doors are expected to open in 2028.
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