ISHPEMING - Constructed in 1917, Bell Memorial Hospital is believed to be the oldest active hospital building in the state, and is nearing the end of its lifespan as a health care facility.

Boldt Construction and the building trades are in the process of erecting its replacement: a 102,424 square-foot hospital and attached 44,244 square-foot medical office building. The new $35.5 million hospital will have numerous advantages over the old four-level facility, including a single-floor, heating and cooling efficiencies, and improved infrastructure for modern medical equipment.

"Our existing building had been though a number of expansions and renovations over the years, but this time it became apparent that the cost of another renovation would be more than the cost of building new," said Rich Rossway, Bell Memorial Hospital's director of marketing and communications.

One major factor, he said, is that "hundreds of thousands of dollars" are spent every year to heat the old hospital.

The old hospital has 69 beds, the new facility will have 25, all in private rooms. The new hospital, which is being built on a 35-acre parcel within the city limits, will have a "north woods lodge" entrance, with a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. Construction began in February 2007. Completion is expected with the facility's grand opening, planned for the third week of September 2008.

"The tradespeople and contractors are doing a phenomenal job," Rossway said last month. "We're ahead of schedule and under budget. What impresses me when I've gone on tours of the building is that the workers are very focused on the jobs at hand. It's been a great experience."

Bell offers a full range of medical services, including mammography, x-ray, ultrasound, laboratory, respiratory therapy, and nuclear medicine, plus general/ambulatory surgical units, a coronary care unit, and obstetrics with private birthing suites.

Bell administrators are exploring other uses for the existing hospital and its additions, which were built in1954 and 1975.

The new hospital, said Bell Memorial CEO Rick Ament, "will allow Bell to provide a modern healthcare delivery system that is better suited to meet a changed national healthcare delivery system which has shifted many services from in-patient care to out-patient care. The highly-efficient facility will offer patients clinical and hospital services on one campus, all within feet of each other."

SOLDERING COPPER PIPE at the Bell Memorial Hospital project is Jason Argall of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 111 and Dressler Mechanical.

THE SPRAWLING EXTERIOR of the new Bell Memorial Hospital in Ishpeming. Photos by Rich Rossway