Pictured is the front entrance of Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center’s new skilled nursing facility in Fairmont.

FAIRMONT — Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont is nearing completion on its $24 million dollar project. The new 81,000 square feet skilled nursing facility, located on the back parking lot of Lakeview’s campus, is expected to be completed in September.

Construction on the project began last summer. It’s being done by Kraus-Anderson, with local sub-contractors including Kingdom Builders Masonry and Fairmont Glass. A large number of sub-contractors within a 100-mile radius are also being used.

Deb Barnes, Lakeview’s administrator, stressed that the new facility will be much more homey than the current one, which she said looks and feels a bit too institutional and hospital like.

The new facility has a cafe, which Barnes said will serve as a restaurant for families and guests to enjoy. It also has a gift shop, updated beauty salon, several family rooms and a large, open communal space.

“We’ll be able to offer this space to the community,” Barnes said.

She said they can use the space to show movies, provide any educational program that the residents or community want, allow space for family gatherings or use it as space for a community presentation.

The facility also has a new physical therapy room. Barnes said it will have half of a car, donated by Hawkins Chevrolet, so people who have had surgery or a stroke can practice getting in and out of the vehicle.

Included in the project is a large space for Building Blocks Learning Center and Child Care. In 2017, when Building Blocks lost its rental site and needed space, Barnes said they quickly got into gear and made some changes in order to house the program.

“It has served well and it’s been fine but to have this new space for them will be great,” Barnes said.

Building Blocks currently has about 70 slots, but the new space will allow for 50 more.

“It’s been a great service to the community,” Barnes said.

The new facility has 72 private rooms, including four bariatric rooms. Each room has its own bathroom and shower.

“That’s really important. That’s what’s missing in so many nursing homes,” Barnes said.

The old building has 95 beds, but Barnes said they’ve found that’s not the right number for them. People’s usage of skilled care on a long-term basis has declined because there are other options now, like assisted living and home care options.

“This new space has a neighborhood concept, a warm feel. It truly can be home here,” Barnes said.

The 72 rooms will be divided into four neighborhoods. Each neighborhood will have its own kitchen and dining room, and meals will be served there.

Two spa rooms are also included in the project. Barnes said they will be nice for people to get a special treatment, especially for those recovering from surgery.

The project will not affect the chapel, existing independent living or assisted living. Those, as well as the kitchen and some offices, will remain in the other building and there will be a hallway connecting the old building to the new facility.

As for the current skilled nursing facility, Barnes said, “We have a committee with several people from the community that’s meeting to look at how we can use the space to meet the needs of the community in the best way possible.”

She said the members all have a different perspective which is great. They’ve also brought in groups from other communities to share their experiences and thoughts.

Barnes stressed that they want to use the space in some way that will be beneficial to Fairmont and the surrounding community.

“Most of the information gathering we’ve done has said that’s some kind of service for people dealing with minor mental health issues. That’s what we’re looking at,” she said.

Barnes said the construction project has seen some minor delays, but no large setbacks.

“We are so fortunate. Everything was ordered before the pandemic and all of the contracts were signed before the pandemic. We really haven’t had delays because of that. It’s almost miraculous,” Barnes said.

“Kraus-Anderson is thinking very confidently that by the end of September they should be done. Then the furniture will be coming in October,” Barnes said.

Then she said they have to go through the Minnesota Department of Health for a final survey and then surveyors from the engineering department of the department of health will come through and give the final approval.

The goal is to have residents move in in November, which Barnes said they are looking forward to.

She said the chaplain comes over nearly every week and films a video which they put on the resident TV channel so that they can see the progress first hand. Barnes said the residents have voiced excitement about the new facility.

“We took ideas from them on things they would like to see that would make it a home to them,” Barnes said.

There will likely be an open house sometime in the fall. Details on that will be made available on Lakeview’s Facebook page or its website, lakeviewmethodist.org.