A Future-ready Hospital in La Crosse
When Mayo Clinic Health System (MCHS) set out to replace its aging hospital, the vision was clear: create a facility that would serve the community for decades to come, support world-class medical care, and provide an inspiring place to work.
This new $215 million, six-level, 287,715-sf tower houses 96 beds and brings together advanced technology, thoughtful design, and sustainable systems. Every detail was shaped by the goal of minimizing energy use, maximizing operational efficiency, and ensuring the facility could grow and adapt to the future of healthcare.
The Team Behind the Project
Projects of this scale require collaboration at the highest level.
- IMEG delivered mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection design services, along with security technology, energy modeling, and construction administration. They also developed the future-ready campus master plan.
- Kahler Slater served as architect.
- Knutson Constructions led construction management.
Together, this team translated MCHS’s vision into a tangible, high-performing reality.
Innovation at Every Level
What makes this tower stand out is how seamlessly advanced systems are integrated into patient care spaces:
- Surgical & Procedural Floor: Connected directly to existing operating rooms and designed for flexibility, this floor includes pre- and post-recovery areas, endoscopy suites, cardiac cath labs, interventional radiology, and more.
- Family Birth Center: Built with dedicated labor/delivery/recovery/postpartum rooms, Special Care Nursery, and C-section suites.
- Medical-Surgical Units & ICU: Equipped with advanced electronic monitoring and progressive care capabilities.
- Shell Space: Built in for future growth.
And behind the scenes? Some of the most forward-looking engineering solutions in healthcare today.
Smart, Sustainable Systems
MCHS wanted a future-ready, energy-efficient tower, and IMEG’s design made that possible:
- Geothermal HVAC: A 540-ton central plant using groundwater provides heating and cooling with 24% higher efficiency and 42% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional systems.
- Chilled Beams & Fan Coils: Reduce energy use while redistributing waste heat throughout the building.
- Lighting Design: 100% LED, with intelligent controls for load management and dimming. Natural light was carefully considered in coordination with the architect’s interior design.
- Electrical Innovation: Medium voltage routing, utility switches, and a new 5kVA substation. Much of the load was tied into an under-utilized existing generator system.
The result? An estimated Energy Use Intensity (EUI) of just 131 kBtu/SF — well below typical hospital performance.
Meeting the Challenge
Every complex project comes with hurdles. One major challenge was fitting large-scale electrical systems into tight spaces without sacrificing future flexibility. By ordering equipment early and collaborating closely with the contractor, IMEG ensured precise planning that allowed everything to fit seamlessly.
A Blueprint for the Future
The new Patient Tower isn’t just a hospital — it’s a statement. With flexible design, digital integration, and advanced building systems, it’s ready to adapt to whatever healthcare needs emerge next.
The Role of Engineering
Projects like this highlight how engineering drives healthcare forward. From geothermal bore fields to intelligent lighting systems, engineers are creating solutions that meet today’s standards while anticipating tomorrow’s demands. They’re ensuring buildings remain adaptable, efficient, and capable of supporting advanced medical care — all while enhancing the health and well-being of the communities they serve.
The Mayo Clinic Health System Patient Tower shows what’s possible when vision, collaboration, and engineering innovation come together. It’s more than a building; it’s a model for the future of healthcare.
About the Guest Blogger
Kris Cotharn, PE, is the client executive of IMEG’s Madison office and principal-in-charge of projects. She served as the project executive for the Mayo Clinic Health System La Crosse new patient tower in La Crosse, Wis. IMEG is a national engineering consulting firm with more than 3,000 employees at 100 locations, including Madison, Wis.