The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative has announced the architects chosen to build their new independent community hospital in Lake Hallie.

According to a press release from the organization, River Valley Architects will provide the design services for the facility. Officials say they conducted a competitive review process, which determined River Valley Architects was the most qualified of the various competitors. They also say the firm’s location in Eau Claire provides them with additional knowledge on local building codes.

Local leaders began the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative following the abrupt closure of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls and HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. The closures left residents in Chippewa Falls without a hospital in the city, and created gaps in healthcare access that individual organizations have attempted to fill in the interim.

Organization officials expect the Lake Hallie hospital to open in late 2027. The facility will feature 48 hospital beds, 12 intensive care unit beds, an emergency department, surgical services, and delivery services. It will also feature a cancer center with diagnostic, radiology, and cardiology services.

The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative is also considering the purchase and reopening of the St. Joseph’s Hospital facility. The organization signed a letter of intent to purchase the property and is doing its due diligence on the financial feasibility of the project. If they decide that reopening the facility is possible, it could be operational by the end of the year. The organization is expected to make that decision in the next few weeks.

Aspirus Health also plans to build a new hospital in Chippewa Falls. The organization has received the needed approvals from the City and County, and the facility could be open in as little as 18 months from the start of construction this spring.

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