Chippewa Falls Aspirus Health Hospital Hits Construction Milestone

Construction work on Aspirus Health’s new Chippewa Falls hospital hit a significant milestone last week with just months to go until it opens.

Officials from Aspirus Health and The Boldt Company gathered at the site on Thursday to celebrate as crews installed Emergency Department and Clinic modules. About 30 percent of the facility was fabricated offsite, a hybrid approach chosen to increase the speed of construction.

While the HSHS and Prevea closures had a significant impact on the Chippewa Valley as a whole, Chippewa Falls residents in particular have faced difficult challenges. The closure of St. Joseph’s Hospital left the city without a hospital entirely, forcing residents to travel to Eau Claire or even further for their healthcare needs. Nathan Cedar is a project executive with The Boldt Company, and explained why the modular construction method was chosen under the circumstances.

“Speed to market’s always been the goal here from day one with this project,” he said. “Where we’re standing now is part of the modular components of the project. Really a first of its kind project with about 70 percent traditional construction, 30 percent hybrid module. So really maximizing you know the efficiency and value and schedule aspects of the project to get this facility up and running as soon as possible.”

When completed, the new 35,000-square-foot Aspirus Health Hospital will sit on a 22 acre Greenfield site along Chippewa Crossing Boulevard. The first phase of construction is slated to wrap up in September, and will include an emergency department, 10 treatment rooms, 10 inpatient beds, and an on-site clinic with 12 treatment rooms. There will also be a pharmacy as well as imaging and lab services.