NDHC to celebrate $39.6 million transformation with ribbon cutting Nov. 12

Northwood Deaconess Health Center (NDHC) and community leaders will gather November 12 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of a $39.6 million renovation and expansion project. Designed by EAPC Architects Engineers and constructed by PCL Construction in a joint venture with Community Contractors, the project modernizes the more than 120-year-old healthcare campus, expanding access to essential medical services and creating updated spaces for patients, residents and staff.

For NDHC, the completed project marks an important milestone.

"This transformation marks an exciting new chapter for Northwood Deaconess and the communities we serve," said Brock Sherva, CEO of NDHC. "For more than 120 years, our mission has been to provide compassionate, high-quality care close to home. These new and renovated spaces allow us to build on that legacy, expand the services our patients depend on, and create a more comfortable, accessible environment for our residents, patients and staff. We're grateful to the entire project team and community for helping bring this vision to life."

Delivering that vision required careful coordination across an active campus.

“Modernizing an active rural hospital shaped by decades of additions and renovations required careful planning and coordination,” said Trent Johnson, vice president and district manager for PCL’s Midwest Division. “Together with Community Contractors and the full project team, we integrated new and renovated spaces while protecting daily operations, creating a stronger healing environment and helping Northwood Deaconess continue providing care close to home.”

Key improvements to the healthcare campus include:

Expanded inpatient facilities: 23,165 square feet of new construction and 11,205 square feet of renovation, including nine inpatient care rooms, designed to improve comfort, accessibility and the patient experience.

Enhanced outpatient and specialty services: Renovated spaces to support endoscopy, colonoscopy, infusion and therapy services, helping more patients access essential care locally.

Modernized long-term care community: 16 larger long-term care rooms with private bathrooms and improved accessibility, creating a more comfortable, private and community-oriented environment.

Improved emergency and imaging capabilities: Updated facilities designed to better support healthcare teams in delivering timely, high-quality care. Includes CT scanning.

A care-centered approach guided every aspect of the project's design.

“The design began with a close look at how care moves through Northwood Deaconess and how patients, residents, families and staff experience a campus shaped by decades of additions and renovations,” said Rachel Harris, principal architect at EAPC Architects Engineers. “Every decision, from clinical adjacencies to accessibility and comfort, was intended to create a more connected environment that supports efficient, coordinated care and a more intuitive patient experience.”

The transformation was made possible through a combination of federal, state and local investment. The project team worked closely with NDHC to align scope, schedule and costs with available funding resources, helping maximize the community's investment while advancing critical healthcare infrastructure improvements.

Funding for the project was provided through a combination of federal and state programs focused on strengthening rural healthcare access. Funding was provided, in part, by the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities program, which offers direct loans, loan guarantees and grants to improve quality of life, support economic development and sustain rural America. USDA's financial support helps rural communities attract and retain businesses that provide essential employment and services for local residents.

In addition to USDA funding, the project also benefited from the Bank of North Dakota's Medical Infrastructure Fund, which provides loans to medical facilities for construction projects that improve healthcare infrastructure and expand access to nonprofit healthcare providers across North Dakota.