ROCKFORD, IL—The $505 million Mercyhealth project, the largest in Rockford's history, reached a milestone last week. The highest steel beam was signed by employees, physicians, administrators and community leaders and placed on the tallest point of the structure in this city about 90 miles northwest of Chicago.

“Today marks a very special moment, as we move one step closer to opening our Women's and Children's Hospital and Medical Center Campus,” said Javon R. Bea, president and chief executive officer of Mercyhealth, at Wednesday's event presentation. “This tradition of topping out means more than raising the last beam. This tradition is about setting and achieving increasingly difficult goals, honoring the milestones along the way and saluting continued success.”

“We've completed the structural steel frame for the new hospital and multispecialty clinic in less than a year and are now moving to enclose the buildings,” said Greg Werner, senior vice president and Chicago office leader of Mortenson Construction, which was hired last year to build the six-story, 451,000 square foot hospital and the five-story, 81,500 square foot clinic.

The new hospital, located near the intersection of I-90 and E. Riverside Blvd., will focus on specialty women's and children's medical services, intensive care for all ages, and include a cardiac center and the area's only Level 1 Trauma Center. “Mortenson is honored to have a critical role in bringing world-class healthcare to this community.”

Builders have traditionally used “topping out” ceremonies to celebrate reaching the ultimate height during the construction process. Those involved sign the beam before it gets placed. An evergreen tree used in the ceremony symbolizes the well wishes of good health and safety to the workers and all who enter.

“The placement of the last beam today represents one of the first building milestones for the largest construction project in Rockford's history and the hard work of the hundreds of individuals who have helped us bring this wonderful hospital and medical center to reality,” said Bea.

The next phase in the building process includes building the enclosure systems; beginning the brick masonry; installing the glass and glazing; roughing in the plumbing and electrical; beginning the roof system; and framing the interior walls. Mercyhealth plans to open the facility in late 2018.

Mortenson has completed several major healthcare projects in the Chicago region since opening its first office here in 2000. The company led the joint venture partnership to build the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, built the new 296-bed Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, IL, and led the $200 million renovation and expansion of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in suburban Barrington.

Instant Insights /

$505M Mercyhealth Project Reaches Milestone

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