Building better care, together
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is growing to meet our community's needs
For more than 130 years, we’ve been honored to care for this community and to be a trusted partner in your health and well-being. As Whatcom County has grown, we’ve grown alongside it. Now we’re taking the next step, expanding to meet the changing healthcare needs of our community for generations to come.
Peter Paulsen Pavilion
Named in honor of the late businessman and philanthropist Peter Paulsen, whose vision and generosity helped strengthen healthcare in our region, the pavilion represents an investment in the future of patient care. The project will create additional space and modernize key areas of the hospital, helping us serve more patients, enhance the experience for caregivers and visitors and support the community's healthcare needs well into the future.
Key features include:
- Six floors
- 120,000 square feet
- Rooftop helipad
- New Women’s and Children’s Department
- Additional patient care floors
- Healing garden
- Improved, expanded Emergency Department
With a planned opening in 2028, the Peter Paulsen Pavilion reflects PeaceHealth's enduring commitment to building a healthier Whatcom County and ensuring that exceptional care remains accessible to those who need it most.
Construction Milestones
The planning, permitting and construction of new healthcare facilities is a complicated and lengthy process and requires numerous state and local approvals. Check out some of the project milestones to date.
Latest Work
With piling installation complete, crews are progressing with site preparation. This work includes:
- Installation of soil nails and shotcrete—concrete sprayed through a hose and projected at high velocity—walls
- Elevator footing excavation and preparation
- Storm drainage rerouting
- Continued foundation excavation and grading
On the north side of the hospital, workers are continuing with Central Utility Plant upgrades.
Patients, visitors and caregivers can expect continued elevated noise and vibration as well as occasional rerouting of pedestrian paths and drive lanes.
Week of October 19, 2026
Temporary Parking Changes
