On Friday, a final structural beam was placed on Western State Hospital's new forensic building, a project that marks the state’s largest capital investment."
On Friday, a final structural beam was placed on Western State Hospital's new forensic building, a project that marks the state’s largest capital investment.
"[The facility] will literally help save lives and transform lives and help thousands and thousands of Washingtonians,” Governor Bob Ferguson said.
An image of the construction underway on the new hospital, expected to open in the fall of 2028. (Dept. of Social and Health Services)It’s a 947-million-dollar investment is intended to treat 350 patients who “enter care through the criminal court system.”
“The safety of the staff and patients and the efficient and effective delivery if therapeutic care to our patients are always the highest priorities,” CEO of the Gage Center of Forensic Excellence at Western State Hospital Mark Thompson said. “And this new hospital provides the opportunity to continue the legacy of that care."
Project leaders said every detail was thought through, with Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) employees ensuring every part of the building is efficient and practical.
A photo of Western State Hospital. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)"They provided real-time feedback on nurses' station, bedroom layout,” DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez said. “Changes were made; real-time changes in practice were made because of the team's input."
It is an investment that Ferguson said will benefit the state for years to come.
“It’s not just a building or buildings; as you know, the work that goes on in those buildings for generations to come will truly transform lives,” he said.
Ferguson said the building is on budget and on track to open in fall 2028.
