In August 2025, state leaders and agency officials broke ground on the new North Dakota State Hospital (NDSH) in Jamestown, N.D. Designed by JLG Architects (architect of record; Fargo, N.D.) and Architecture+ (associate architect; Troy, N.Y.), NDSH will provide inpatient psychiatric care, forensic evaluation and restoration, psychiatric rehabilitation, and a geriatric psychiatric unit in a modern, trauma-informed care environment.
The new 295,000-square-foot facility replaces the main 1980s facility and several aging buildings totaling 500,000 square feet. Led by the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget, the project team expects construction to be completed in late 2027.
Expanding capacity at a state hospital
NDSH is designed to serve more individuals than the previous facility while integrating with the broader mental health care continuum, ensuring a seamless transition from hospital to community-based care.
The facility expands capacity from 121 beds in the previous hospital to 140 beds as well as specialized therapeutic spaces for group, music, physical, and occupational therapy services.
Planned amenities include an art room, sensory room, gymnasium, bank, retail space, computer labs, fitness room, greenhouse, library, teaching kitchen, vocational program, and an occupational rehabilitation apartment.
Additionally, NDSH features educational workforce and continuous improvement spaces for staff and higher education institutions, including the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences.
North Dakota State Hospital project details
Location: Jamestown, N.D.
Target completion date: late 2027
Owner: State of North Dakota
Total building area: 295,000 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: $300 million (estimated)
Architect of record: JLG Architects
Associate architect: Architecture+
Interior designer: JLG Architects
Construction manager: Mortenson
Engineer: Interstate Engineering (civil), Heyer Engineering (structural), CMTA (MEP)
Medical equipment planner: Architecture+
Project details are provided by the design team and not vetted by Healthcare Design.
