BY KONRAD STRZALKA konrad.strzalka@thmedia.com – Author email – Apr 14, 2026

LANCASTER, Wis. — As dark clouds parted and gave way to glimmers of sunlight, dozens of Lancaster community members gathered to celebrate a milestone for their local hospital.

Grant Regional Health Center ceremonially broke ground Monday on an $18.5 million project. Multiple people involved with elements of the project, from the construction to the fundraising, spoke at the event.

“This is not only an exciting day for the board, our staff, our providers and leadership at Grant Regional Health Center — it’s an exciting day for Lancaster and our surrounding communities,” said hospital President and CEO Tami Chambers.

The expansion includes approximately 11,400 square feet of new construction and 15,600 square feet of renovations. Work will be completed in phases to minimize disruptions, and final completion is expected in June 2027, a hospital press release states.

The additional two-story space will be located on the west side of the hospital, filling in where the gazebo and courtyard currently are located. The hospital has added several services in recent years, and the project will allow for more space and improved facilities for behavioral health, rehabilitation, laboratory and nutrition services, hospital leaders said.

“This expansion is all about the people,” Chambers said. “It’s about ensuring our patients have access to high-quality health care at home. It’s about supporting our dedicated staff to ensure they have the space and resources to do their very best work.”

Part of the fundraising for the project includes a goal of $3 million in private donations, of which Grant Regional Health Center Foundation has raised $1.7 million thus far. More information is available at grantregional.com/foundation/2026-expansion.

Mike Franz, principal architect with Kahler Slater, emphasized the project will not just help improve the hospital’s health care offerings but also improve the layout of the campus. He said the design is focused on maximizing natural light, improving wayfinding, increasing energy efficiency and allowing for long-term flexibility for future projects.

“Many renovations within the building will help make the campus cohesive, … improve wayfinding and utilize some spaces there were a little bit underutilized,” Franz said.

Speeches at Monday’s ceremony largely focused on the forward-thinking mentality behind the project. The project was announced in March 2025, six months ahead of the hospital’s 70th anniversary.

“I’m just hopeful that in the year 2096, people will say, ‘Boy, I’m really glad those people in 2026 made that investment and did the right thing and put this project together,’” said Jason Kenney, chair of the hospital’s board of directors, looking another 70 years into the future.

Lancaster Mayor Stuart Harper said he has received care from the hospital for nearly four decades and that his two children were born there.

“It’s a fantastic facility, and we are so lucky to have this in our community, and I am so proud that they’re going to continue to expand it,” he said. “(The project) is so important to the continuing growth of Lancaster and the continuing growth of Grant County.”

The new project is the latest in a string of developments at the hospital in recent years.

The hospital completed a larger expansion in 2018, with 32,000 square feet of new construction and 39,000 square feet of renovated space, including additions such as a rooftop heliport, expanded radiology and emergency departments and new space for its family practice clinic.

Since then, Grant Regional Health Center also added new clinics throughout the county, most recently a Fennimore clinic that opened in January 2024.

Lancaster hospital celebrates start of $18.5 million project | Tri-state News | telegraphherald.com