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

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Mayo officials and La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds cut the ribbon on Aug. 21, 2024, at La Crosse's newest hospital (PHOTO: Brad Williams)

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.

Mayo’s new La Crosse hospital includes a rooftop landing pad for its medical helicopter.

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 dedication of the new hospital drew a large crowd to the Mayo campus in La Crosse on Aug. 21, 2024 (photo:Brad Williams)

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.

New labor and pregnancy areas were among highlighted spots during a tour at the new Mayo hospital in La Crosse on Aug. 21, 2024 (PHOTO: Brad Williams)..

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.

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2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. nick

    August 22, 2024 at 5:06 am

    Good thing it was in the hands of a private employer. Would have cost a lot more if the feds or state would have been building it.

    • Yvonne

      August 24, 2024 at 9:58 am

      You’re so right but where are people going to park ? The old hospital will be torn down and the clinic will be expanded in that space.

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