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Construction Corner

We're beaming: New hospital topped out

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On Oct. 6, the last piece of structural steel forming the skeleton of Mayo Clinic's new 214-bed hospital was bolted into place. Coincidentally, the topping out marked the halfway spot in the $254.6 million construction project, which will bring together Mayo's inpatient and outpatient services on one campus. Patients will benefit not only from a state-ofthe-art hospital with all new technology and equipment, but also from the convenience, time savings, expanded resources and increased access to physicians that come with combining hospital and clinic services in one location.

Construction is proceeding on many fronts. The framing for interior walls in many areas, such as the Emergency Department and patient rooms, is already in. Dry wall is up in surgery. And the dramatic front entrance took shape in early fall as the soaring steel beams forming the canopy were anchored into place. The hospital is on schedule to open in April 2008.