News Release: Avera Health Announces Largest Building Project in Sioux Falls History

Avera Health announced it will begin construction on $174 million worth of projects. The focus includes a new health campus at 69th Street and Louise Avenue – the largest building project in Sioux Falls’ history.

Avera Health announced it will begin construction on $174 million worth of projects in Sioux Falls,
S.D. (Rendering courtesy of Avera Health)

“This bold, transformative campus is part of a broad and unified development plan to meet the rapidly growing needs of Sioux Falls and the region,” said Dr. Dave Kapaska, Regional President and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.

The Avera on Louise Health Campus will be a walk-able, consumer-friendly campus constructed on 82 acres at a convenient, easy-to-access location in southwest Sioux Falls.

Work will begin this fall, and when constructed, the campus will have multiple buildings. The first phase includes a surgical hospital and a connected medical office building, comprising 260,000 square feet. Opening of the campus is slated for early 2020.

The campus will specialize in orthopedics and sports medicine, gastroenterology, rheumatology and internal medicine. The surgical hospital will offer an immense range of innovative surgical procedures including robotic surgery, new technologies and amenities.

“This is an unflinching example of the unified, strategic effort Avera is making to enhance health services in the region by providing greater and easier access to convenient, high-end health services like orthopedics and gastroenterology,” Kapaska said. “Health care of the future must be convenient and easily accessible, so Avera is revisioning what care we deliver where.”

Examples include Avera’s Family Health Center and the state’s first free-standing Emergency Department on Marion Road, expansion of urgent care clinics, same-day appointments for primary care in Sioux Falls, and AveraNow virtual visits on smartphones and laptops anywhere and on kiosks at Sioux Falls Hy-Vee stores.

The new surgical hospital will be designed with patients’ diverse needs in mind. “This runs the gamut from those who need complex orthopedic surgeries, to Baby Boomers seeking quality of life, to seasoned athletes looking for an added advantage, to weekend warriors wanting relief from nagging injuries. It will coordinate all aspects of musculoskeletal care, from prevention, to surgery, to recovery and beyond,” Kapaska said.

The economic impact of this project will be considerable, both in terms of the workers who participate in construction, as well as the purchase of materials. Over 600 workers will participate in construction over a two-year period with an estimated payroll near $28 million. Using U.S. Department of Commerce economic multipliers, this creates an economic ripple effect that will contribute to 1,200 total jobs and $118 million in earnings.

The design and construction team includes BWBR Architects, St. Paul, Minn.; Journey Construction, Sioux Falls; and Garrett Peters, AIA, Avera McKennan.

Orthopedics and gastroenterology are both growing specialty areas for Avera. Avera recently opened a new Avera Medical Group Orthopedics & Sports Medicine practice, including 24/7 orthopedic trauma services for Avera McKennan emergency departments, both at the main campus and at the Family Health Center on Marion Road. These seven orthopedic physicians are among 28 orthopedic providers in the Avera system.

“We have been extremely successful in recruiting expert and experienced orthopedic surgeons, and we simply need more room to meet the demand for this level of care,” said Dave Flicek, Chief Administrative Officer for Avera Medical Group. The same is true for GI services, and the new space at 69th and Louise will help ease scheduling for GI appointments and meet the growing demand.

“Avera facilities in Sioux Falls serve a much wider area of 86 counties and 72,000 square miles across five states, especially for specialty care that cannot be delivered through outreach or telemedicine,” Kapaska said.

The 24-bed surgical hospital will feature large, technologically advanced surgical suites. A complete outpatient gastroenterology unit will have numerous procedure rooms. The buildings will be connected by a beautiful, multi-story commons space where the public can enjoy dining options, gift shop, chapel comfortable seating and more. The surgical hospital also will house all supportive services such as physical therapy, laboratory, imaging, pharmacy and biomedical equipment, with space reserved for future growth.

In conjunction with this project, Avera McKennan plans an extensive renovation project on its main campus, and additional details will be shared soon. “This project will allow for the expansion of surgical suites at Avera McKennan to accommodate all the latest technology,” Kapaska said. Other plans include expansion of ICU and clinic space.

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