Projected to be Montana’s largest building, Intermountain Health’s St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings is designed to be a landmark in healthcare facilities. Slated for completion in 2029, the 737,000-square-foot structure will stand 285 feet tall, making it a new architectural giant in the region. This ambitious project will outsize the Montage Big Sky resort and redefine the Montana skyline.
According to spokesperson Mike Paquette, the hospital will feature 14 stories, each equivalent to one-and-a-half regular stories. It will surpass the 272-foot First Interstate Center, currently one of the tallest buildings in Montana. Administrators describe the hospital as both an advanced medical facility and a catalyst for economic growth, promising significant investments in patient care.
The new construction promises to generate approximately 500 jobs and offer breathtaking floor-to-ceiling views of the Rims and Yellowstone Valley in almost all patient rooms, enhancing the healing environment. The current hospital’s windows are smaller and often face less scenic views. Dustin Strandell, the hospital’s COO, assures that the experience will be much improved.
The extensive four-year construction project is replacing the existing facility, composed of five buildings, with the oldest dating back to 1918. The upgrade includes modernized HVAC and electrical systems. According to Strandell, maintaining current buildings during the upgrade would be financially impractical.
BY THE NUMBERS
Intermountain Health’s new St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings is set to become one of Montana’s most massive structures. Construction began in 2025, targeting completion in 2029. Contractors have taken on a significant challenge, expected to deliver a building of unprecedented scale and complexity. Notable project features include:
- 82 miles of plumbing
- 1.5 miles of cabinets
- Wiring from Billings to Bozeman six times over
- Steel equal to the weight of 2,700 cars
- 1,700 truckloads of cement
- 14,000 gallons of paint
- 600+ peak workforce
- 230 concrete pillars drilled between 30 to 80 feet deep to bedrock
The statistics are drawn from an Intermountain Health fact sheet and MTFP reporting.
Strandell noted that each upgrade exposes old infrastructure, requiring costly code compliance. The $900 million project will demolish the old buildings, funded mainly through bonds, reserves, and fundraising campaigns led by Tyler Wiltgen, St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation’s executive director. Nationally renowned Layton Construction is the general contractor, with the goal of awarding 50% of subcontract work locally, a target already exceeded. The project will peak at 600-700 workers.
The new St. Vincent’s will house 243 beds, maintaining current operational capacity while preparing for future healthcare demands. Each room will be multipurpose, capable of functioning as ICU rooms, offering adaptability for pandemic situations. This flexibility is a highlight of the hospital’s design.
All new patient rooms will be single-occupancy with expansive windows, reducing nurse walking distance by up to 50%. The facility will have distinct entries and elevators for staff, patients, and visitors, enhancing privacy and providing brief respites for staff.
Once completed, the existing hospital structures will be removed, replaced by parking and green spaces. Staff training is underway for the transition, anticipated to be a 12-hour operation based on previous Intermountain experiences. A new 93,000-square-foot warehouse will also be established to bolster supply chain and laundry services.
St. Vincent aims to strengthen its position in the regional medical market with these upgrades, enhancing its pediatric services through partnerships with Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. Administrators underscore the investment as a commitment to the community, showing Intermountain’s long-term dedication to healthcare advancement in Montana.
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