$1 Billion St. Vincent Hospital Breaks Ground in Billings, Creating 1,200 Construction Jobs

BILLINGS — Intermountain Health celebrated the start of construction this week on what officials are calling a “once-in-a-generation” replacement of St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings, with completion expected in 2029.

The new 14-story, 737,000-square-foot facility will be built at 27th Street and 12th Avenue North, just east of the current hospital building. Construction is expected to take four years.

Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen attended the groundbreaking ceremony, calling the project “a testament to the commitment of advancing healthcare in Billings and Montana.”

“This new facility will allow doctors, nurses, and staff to provide excellent care to patients across our state,” Jacobsen said.

Modern Design for Changing Healthcare Needs

According to Intermountain Health, the decision to replace the current facility was made to address aging infrastructure and create a modern, efficient hospital capable of adapting to evolving healthcare demands.

The new hospital will feature 243 patient beds with space ready to build an additional 16 beds when needed. All patient rooms are designed to be universal with the ability to convert to ICU-level care, allowing the hospital to respond to changing demands and potential future pandemics.

All operating rooms have been designed to adapt to multiple types of procedures and will be fully integrated to handle advances in technology, including future developments in robotic surgical technology. The surgical areas will have pre-op, operating rooms, and recovery areas all in the same location for more efficient care.

Economic Impact

The project is expected to have substantial economic impact on the region. At the construction peak, 600-700 workers will be on site, with 1,200 total workers expected to be involved in the project. According to Intermountain Health, an additional 500 local jobs are expected to be created in the community to support the workforce and project.

“The new hospital is poised to be a significant driver of economic growth in Yellowstone County and the city of Billings,” said Lee Boyles, president of Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital and the Montana and Wyoming market of Intermountain Health.

Patient-Centered Features

The new facility will offer several unique design aspects focused on patient and caregiver experience:

• Dedicated Public Space: The entire first floor will serve as public space for patients and visitors, including a chapel, outpatient pharmacy, gift shop, and discharge lounge.
  
• Improved Entrances: The public entrance will include an outdoor garden and accommodate multiple traffic streams. The emergency department will have a separate, secure entrance with a covered garage for ambulances.
  
• Enhanced Care Design: All floors will feature decentralized nursing stations to keep caregivers closer to patients. Most patient rooms will have large windows with natural light and views of Billings.

“We are constructing a replacement hospital to improve the healthcare in Billings and surrounding states for future generations and to build a healthier community for all we serve,” said Rob Allen, president and CEO of Intermountain Health.

Upon opening, all current services at the existing St. Vincent facility will transfer to the new hospital, which will fully replace the current building.

More information about the project is available on the Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital website.