State Hospital South holds groundbreaking for new multimillion dollar facility

Hospital administrators in Blackfoot are excited to begin construction on their new multimillion dollar building. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Syringa Chalet Nursing Facility at State Hospital South in Blackfoot Wednesday.

Construction will officially begin in two weeks and should be finished by July 2020. The 57,000 square-foot building will occupy the courtyard next to the old nursing facility and expand into the parking lot.

The old facility was built in 1938 and has needed an update for years. As the current building celebrates its 81st year in use, hospital staff and administrators are excited for another 80 years in a new and improved facility.

This is a $35 million project. However, bonds were issued by the state building authority last fall to meet the construction costs, which also includes demolition of the existing nursing home.