The Cherokee Nation (Tahlequah, Okla.) started construction on a $400 million hospital project that will replace the aging W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah, according to the website hl.nwaonline.com.

The six-story, 400,000-square-foot hospital will include emergency, surgery, imaging, hospice, dietary, and acute care services. It will house 127 patient beds, an emergency department, intensive care unit, pharmacy, lab, neonatal ICU, and rooftop helipad.

A connecting bridge will be added to connect the new facility to the existing Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center on the medical campus.

The project is expected to be completed in 2 years.

The project team comprises Childers Architects (architect; Tahlequah) and Foreman Manhattan Construction (general contractor; Tulsa, Okla.).