Mayo celebrates construction of its new La Crosse hospital, priced at over $200 million

La Crosse’s oldest hospital dedicated its brand new home on Wednesday.

Leaders from the Mayo Clinic Health System and the community cut the ribbon at a new $215 million hospital on West Avenue, that will replace the facility once known as St. Francis Hospital.

Ground was broken in the spring of 2022 for the new six-level facility that will house 96 beds.

Mayo regional vice president Dr. Richard Helmers called the hospital site “a place of joy,” and announced that construction work should be completed within a month. Staffers and patients will be moved into the building in stages, during September. A public open house is scheduled for Sunday.

“We’re really excited to have this opportunity to continue to bring care here to our region here in southwest Wisconsin,” Mayo oncologist Scott Okuno said, adding that the facility will “allow us to blend some of the newer technologies that we can provide in a hospital setting, and continue focusing on patient care here.”

The Franciscan Sisters of La Crosse originally founded the St. Francis hospital in 1883, making it the city’s oldest hospital. Sister Marlene Weisenbeck of the FSPA gave a blessing during the ceremony.

The building includes specialty areas for surgery and intensive care, along with a helicopter pad on the roof. For years, the Mayo helicopter has had to take off and land at surface parking areas.