BEAVER DAM FACES CHANGE

Construction of the new $42 million, 184,000-square-foot Beaver Dam Community Hospital is already under way. The new facility will replace the old hospital, which was built in 1938. Rendering courtesy of Kahler Slater Architects Inc.

Wal-Mart and local hospital
lead development charge

It's easy to understand why Wal-Mart selected Beaver Dam as the site for a new distribution center. It's a thriving community with a strong and diverse business base.

But some citizens remain concerned that the 1.2 million-square-foot facility, planned near the intersection of highways 151 and A, will threaten the quality of life that has become the pride of the community. A citizens group is appealing a decision by the Dodge County district attorney, who determined in February that the city of Beaver Dam did nothing improper to attract the Wal-Mart distribution center to the area.

But aside from those complaints, the $55 million center, which is expected to create as many as 900 jobs, is considered a boon by most in the community.

"That's a massive positive impact no matter what economic model you use," said Trent Campbell, executive vice president of the Beaver Dam Area Development Corp., a private nonprofit development group.

Campbell said the distribution center would significantly impact the city's tax roll, both in terms of property taxes and economic activity. Despite the pending legal action, Campbell said, Beaver Dam plans to move forward with the project.

"By all indications, Wal-Mart's commitment has not wavered," he said.

BBeaver Dam Community Hospital is building itself a new home. Located to the east of the existing hospital, the new facility should take about 25 months to complete. Rendering courtesy of Kahler Slater Architects Inc.

In January, the city approved the annexation of more than 400 acres northeast of the intersection of highways 151 and A. Campbell said the actual distribution center will occupy about 275 acres.

ust inside the city, Beaver Dam Community Hospital is embarking on the construction of a replacement facility to be located east of the existing building. Site work began in early May, according to Andy Ostrand, a project manager for the project's construction management firm, M.A. Mortensen Co., Brookfield.

Werner Bierdman, chairman of the hospital board, said building a new hospital would be more efficient than expanding and renovating the existing facility, originally built in 1938.

"A new hospital will meet the future health-care needs of the community," he said.

Construction costs are expected to run $42 million for the 184,000-square-foot facility. Because the new hospital is being built on the existing campus, Ostrand said construction will be done in phases over the next 25 months to minimize the disruption of patient services.

Features of the replacement hospital include 60 private patient rooms, an outpatient diagnostic center, a resource information center, a central registration area and an expanded surgery center. The old hospital will be razed for a new parking structure.